Duquesne Lawyer magazine, summer 2015 by Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University

THE SUMMER 2015

The Duquesne University School of Law Magazine for Alumni and Friends

IN LOVING MEMORY DR. JOHN E. MURRAY, JR.

1932-2015

THE

DuquesneLawyer is published semi-annually by Duquesne University Office of Public Affairs

CONTACT US www.law.duq.edu lawalumni@duq.edu 412.396.5215 ÂŠ 2015 by the Duquesne University School of Law Reproduction in whole or in part, without permission of the publisher, is prohibited.

DEAN

Ken Gormley EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND DIRECTOR OF LAW ALUMNI RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT

Jeanine L. DeBor DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Colleen Derda CONTRIBUTORS

Cassandra Bodkin Maria Comas Jay Costa Jeanine DeBor Colleen Derda Colin Drummond Ken Gormley Jamie Inferrera Kelsey Leonard Jan Levine Tami Mack Margaret McGannon Mary Olson Alison Palmeri Rose Ravasio Phil Rice Jacob Rooksby Kevin Shaw Rebecca Silinski Angela Reed Strathman Tynishia Williams DESIGN

Miller Creative Group

CONTENTS FEAT U RES Dr. John E. Murray, Jr.: A Magnificent Life 4 “Murray-isms” 6 Three Chief Judges, One Alma Mater: The Duquesne Law Triumvirate behind the Western District of Pennsylvania

Dean Gormley’s Nomination to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Recognizing a Legacy of Courage: The Honorable Donetta Ambrose Endowed Scholarship

Advanced Legal Writing: Drafting

Al Peláez: More than a Professor

Young Alumni Profile: Brian Panucci, L’13

63rd Annual Reunion Dinner

Being a Schweitzer Fellow

DEPART M ENT S Faculty Achievements

Class Actions

In Memoriam

Student Briefs

Career Services

More than a Professor: Al Peláez in 1977 (see article on page 18)

S TAY I N F O R M E D

M E S S AG E FROM T HE DEAN

Chancellor Murray’s Grand Vision No words in a Dean’s Message can adequately express the sense of loss, personally and professionally, that came with the unexpected death of Chancellor John E. Murray, Jr. this past February. Consequently, this issue of The Duquesne Lawyer (p. 4) includes an adapted version of the eulogy I delivered at Dr. Murray’s funeral Mass that I hope captures the feelings of respect, admiration and love that the entire Duquesne Law community felt toward Dr. Murray; and our gratitude that he served as a brilliant leader and role model at Duquesne for decades. I thought it was most fitting to use this message to share with you a grand vision that Chancellor Murray had shared with me toward the end of his life. He had repeatedly identified a top priority: carrying out the ambitious Call to Excellence campaign—that he had helped to craft—so that his dream of excellence at the School of Law could continue long after he left. In John’s memory, we are now pursuing this initiative with redoubled energy.

The Call to Excellence campaign was largely John Murray’s brainchild. He believed, as I did, that we needed to take extraordinary steps to maintain our recent successes, even as we face declining enrollments in legal education and dwindling resources. John told me numerous times that we needed to outperform other law schools by excelling at the fundamentals: bar exam results, scholarship aid for students and skills training (moot court, clinical training, etc.). The Call to Excellence campaign was built for this purpose; it was designed to create a bridge fund that would take us through the current period of financial challenges and allow us to emerge on the other end as an even stronger law school. In typical fashion, John led by example: He provided a generous gift of $50,000 as seed money to launch the campaign. He also volunteered to head up the initiative. Sadly, he died just weeks before the Call to Excellence Committee’s inaugural meeting.

Chancellor Murray, former University of Pittsburgh chancellor Mark Nordenberg and Dean Gormley at 2014 commencement.

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“At a small law school like Duquesne, if you can attract a few superstars in their fields—even as visitors and for special lectures—it will elevate the whole Law School to new levels of excellence, quickly.” — Chancellor Murray

As part of this vision, Chancellor Murray was also determined to attract visiting scholars in contracts and otherwise to enhance the scholarly profile of Duquesne Law. He had spoken to me, and to Associate Vice President of University Advancement Jim Miller, many times about this plan. His goal was to retire in the next year or two, and to use this occasion to launch his initiative. He told me during chats in his office: “At a small law school like Duquesne, if you can attract a few superstars in their fields—even as visitors and for special lectures—it will elevate the whole Law School to new levels of excellence, quickly.” John Murray passed away before he could realize that dream. However, thanks to the efforts of Jack McGinley, L’68, who has demonstrated his leadership by stepping forward to chair the Call to Excellence campaign, we are seeking to raise over $2 million in John Murray’s memory. This goal is no more ambitious than Dr. Murray’s own vision for the future of the School of Law. We are especially honored that his son, Tim Murray, Esq., who was his dad’s steady collaborator on Murray on Contracts, the Corbin on Contracts revisions, and many other signature scholarly projects, has stepped forward as well. Tim publicly announced at the Duquesne Law Alumni dinner in April that his family will fully back the Call to Excellence campaign and support it as the single initiative that directly embodies the ambitious dreams of his father. Tim ended his remarks at the dinner by stating: “My father planned to be around for at least as long as his Aunt Elizabeth, who died at the age of 100, and he never lived to put all the pieces in place. It’s now up to us. I’m here tonight to tell you that my family is going to do everything it can to help Dean Gormley fulfill my father’s dream and honor his legacy. There is no better way to insure that the law school maintains the highest standards of scholarship, and to serve as a reminder that not too long ago, a giant roamed this campus and cast an enormous shadow.” It is impossible to adequately thank, in mere words on paper, a giant figure like Chancellor John Murray. He devoted his career to advancing our University, our law school, our profession and our region – not for himself, but to attain an elegant form of excellence that was quintessentially John Murray,

a form of excellence that he believed God intended for this special institution on the Bluff. The time for personally thanking John Murray for his innumerable contributions has sadly passed. Yet it remains crystal clear what he had hoped to achieve as part of his final grand vision. Please join us in honoring Chancellor John E. Murray, Jr.’s remarkable legacy in this special fashion. It would mean more to him than any other tribute or sparkling award.

“There is no better way to insure that the Law School maintains the highest standards of scholarship, and to serve as a reminder that not too long ago, a giant roamed this campus and cast an enormous shadow.” — Tim Murray, Esq.

SUMMER 2015

Dr. John E. Murray, Jr.: A Magnificent Life

The following is an adapted version of the eulogy delivered by Dean Ken Gormley at the funeral Mass for Chancellor John E. Murray, Jr. held at Epiphany Church, Uptown, on February 19, 2015. It is my honor to offer remarks this morning at this beautiful funeral Mass. More importantly, like many of you gathered here at this magnificent church, I’m privileged to have been helped along the way, at every stage of my career, by Dr. John Murray. I first met John Murray in 1982 when he was the dean at Pitt Law School and I was applying to start up a new legal writing program that he’d initiated there primarily for minority students and women coming back to law school after raising their children. I hand-wrote a 10-page letter, explaining why I was the best possible person in the world for this job and why he needed to

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hire me. I was ushered into John’s office—he leaned back in his chair, puffed on a cigarette, and said with that perfect Murray delivery: “I don’t think I have the time to read another 10-page letter. I guess I’ll just have to hire you and be done with it.” From that point forward, John never told me how to do my job—except to ask how he could help by writing extra problems and meeting with my students after hours. He was the busiest person in the Law School. But he was the first person to carve out time for others.

When I came to Duquesne Law School in 1994, a big reason was John Murray. He was president by then, the first lay president in the University’s history, and he was already busy turning it into a world-class institution. I worked on many University-wide programs with John during those days. Seeing him in action was incredible: He thrived on innovation; on being adventurous; on taking carefully calculated risks—and then turning them into brilliant successes. I’ll never forget the night that he presided over the Celebration for Excellence in December of 1999. The new Student Union had recently been unveiled and it was glittering on that night. All 3,000 guests followed John outside, bedecked in his handsome black winter coat. He and Liz, his wife of 55 years, stood together in the cold, and he raised his hand in the air, as if to say “Behold… .” All of a sudden, fireworks started shooting into the sky from the South Side—a spectacular production by the Zambelli family— and everyone in the crowd just gasped, as if to say: “My God, this guy can make fireworks shoot into the sky and a gorgeous new Student Union appear on the Bluff—what can’t he do?” There was a story circulating around campus at this time, and Fr. Hogan can tell us if it was apocryphal. The story was that someone proposed that John donate money for a sepulcher, so that he could be buried in it, atop the Duquesne chapel, when he passed away. John asked how much a sepulcher like this would cost. The answer was, “about a hundred thousand dollars.” And John said: “Well, that would be a waste of money. I’d only need it for three days.” I don’t believe that story: John was actually much more humble—and even shy—than most people knew. But he was certainly a transformative president who seemed to be able to touch things and turn them into gold. Any complete story of the modern era of Duquesne University will certainly record that John Murray was a principal architect of it. On a more personal note, I have to tell you that when President Charles Dougherty appointed me to serve as interim dean in 2008, it was a tough time for the Law School. Internal problems were crippling us. John Murray was chancellor of the University by now, occupying an office right down the hall from me in the Law School. Most people in his position would have said: “I don’t need more of this aggravation—I’ve been dean at two law schools and president of a university. I’ll sit in my office as a comfortable, revered figurehead, and leave these problems for everyone else to worry about.” Not John Murray. He was my closest supporter and advisor during this difficult time—and that remained true all the way through last week, until the day he passed away. We’d sit for hours in his office, talking about his experiences at Pitt, or Villanova, or as president of Duquesne; and I’d learn from those experiences, drawing strength from his calm, confident, thoroughly honest approach.

John often said to me that he wanted to stop teaching when he “lost his fastball.” I saw him two days before he died, and I can tell you—he never lost his fastball. He was literally the best teacher in the building. He was also the most youthful person on our faculty, as I often told my wife Laura as I marveled at his ability to maintain the enthusiasm of 20-something-year-old professor. It was extremely difficult for me to come to grips with his passing, the day I received that call from his son, Tim—but I gradually found consolation in the fact that John never really had a bad day in his life. In fact, he seemed to love his job more each day. He was devoted to his students, who were the number one reason he came to work for 50-plus years. I can’t count the number of people at the funeral home yesterday who said, “This was the best professor I’ve ever had in my life.” And they went on to say that even that supreme compliment was an understatement. To my knowledge, John never missed a single day of classes in 50 years. In fact, he insisted that Marjorie’s son, Matt, call me as he was being taken to the hospital last week, to make sure his classes were covered in contracts and remedies for the next day. Another love (of course) was his scholarship: Murray on Contracts; the revised Corbin book; the hundred other articles, book chapters and other projects he was always working on— starting at 5:00 in the morning, when he liked to start his writing at home, seated at his desk, quietly typing away at his computer. Most of all, though, John loved his family beyond words—and I can tell you that he talked about each one of you with such pride: His children, Bruce, Susan, Tim and Jacqueline; his grandchildren; Liz; Marge; and the whole extended family. It was hard to fathom how anyone could pull it off, but John lived a charmed life and somehow seemed able to grow happier each day. In fact, the last time I saw him walking to his class—last week—he was wearing a snazzy blue blazer, his contracts book and seating chart tucked under his arm, and he was smiling that supremely confident John Murray smile, as if to say: “Every day is perfect, as long as I get to do this.” I’ll miss the long talks in his office, and the phone calls over the weekend to kibbitz about new projects. I’ll miss being in the presence of this great academic leader and civic figure, who was capable of doing a hundred things to perfection—but who devoted most of his career to Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit, because he loved this place, and he truly believed that his principal mission in life was to serve God by serving his students. We’ll miss you, John. But we were all blessed to have you as a friend, teacher and mentor. And to the extent that God needs someone to stand at the gates of heaven to iron out the terms of entry—the complex contractual issues of offer, acceptance, promissory estoppel and the ultimate “battle of the forms”—He now has the perfect man. May you rest in peace. And may you shine a light down on all of us who were privileged to be in your midst.

SUMMER 2015

“MURRAY-ISMS”

Tributes to Dr. Murray from his students

“This is the way I remember this story: It was almost 50 years ago in Dr. Murray’s contracts class at the beginning of the 1965-1966 school year. First-year student Leonard Sweeney was asked a question by Professor Murray and promptly gave the answer of ‘No.’ Professor Murray gave his wry smile and said, ‘That’s not a very lawyer-like answer.’ Sweeney did not miss a beat and replied, ‘Okay, maybe.’ The great man allowed as though that was acceptable and then went on to give his analysis.” Tom Smith, A’65, L’68

“Dr. Murray was a great teacher. During the course of my career, I never met a contract that did nor stir memories of Dr. Murray’s wise words. I know that my success in passing the Pennsylvania, New York and California bars was in large part attributable to his teaching. He will be missed, but never forgotten.” Bill Green, L’63

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“I have the cover of the Spring 2013 Juris hanging in my office, with a quote from Dr. Murray: ‘Every day has to be an attempt to say, creatively or otherwise, what can I do to make it better than it was yesterday.’ “From class, my favorite Murray-ism is,

‘Do we have a contract? Oh yeah! You bet we do!’ Sara Trower, L’10

“He was a great teacher and a kind man. He will be missed.” Virginia Berlando, L’04

“He will be missed by many alumni, as well as the countless other lives he has touched throughout his pursuits.” James S. Anderson, L’10

“Dr. Murray was speaking at a memorial service for Fr. McAnulty, and he shared that he will remember the good father—and all that he did for the University—every time he looks up at the Administration Building. I will now think of them both, their deeds, actions and leadership.” Garry Nelson, L’82

“I had the privilege of learning from Dr. Murray, including him calling on me in my first-ever law class! A truly great man and great legal mind, he will be missed.”

“Professor Murray always answered every question I had— and I had a lot—with clarity and patience. He inspired my mother in her legal career and, following in her footsteps, contracts was my favorite course when I came to law school. Professor Murray taught me to love the law, and the way that it can be used to accomplish great things.” Anonymous

Jason Borkowski, L’07 “And on the 7th day, Murray created contracts.” “It was an honor and a privilege to have had the opportunity to study Sales/UCC with Dr. Murray. He had a tremendously positive impact on my legal career. I’ll never forget his teachings and his questions in class, too.”

Student Bar Association T-shirt

Anonymous

“I still have my law school version of Murray on Contracts on my bookshelf in my office at home. I will forever be grateful for my interactions with Dr. Murray, including classroom discussions of the infamous ‘battle of the forms.’ Dr. Murray’s many contributions to the study of law and the community have left an indelible mark on the legal profession and our community.” Steve Regan, L’98

“During a low point at the end of my law school career, he gave me good advice and kind words that I shall never forget. May he dwell in the House of our Lord forever.” Warner Macklin III, L’09

“John was such a wonderful musician, with a musician’s quirky sense of humor. It was an honor to know him and sing with him, and I will miss him greatly, as will the whole University community.” Lynn Purse, School of Music SUMMER 2015

Three Chief Judges, One Alma Mater:

The Duquesne Law Triumvirate behind the Western District of Pennsylvania Phil Rice, Contributing Writer

The Honorable Joy Flowers Conti, the Honorable Maureen P. Kelly and the Honorable Jeffery A. Deller of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania share many admirable qualities. In the course of performing their duties, they have each established themselves as exceptional legal professionals and sharp purveyors of the rule of law. In keeping with the court’s mission statement, all three demonstrate a flawless and expert dedication to protecting individual rights and liberties, to promoting public trust and confidence in the judicial system, and to maintaining judicial independence. And, not insignificantly, all three are proud alumni of the Duquesne School of Law. The professional accomplishments and commitment to integrity shared by this distinguished triumvirate serve as a source of encouragement and pride for all students of the Law School—past, present and future. The Honorable Joy Flowers Conti, L’73, is the Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. She joined the court in 2002 after being nominated by President George W. Bush and was elevated to the position of chief judge in 2013. Judge Conti graduated from Duquesne University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1970 and entered the Law School shortly 8

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thereafter. Being a law student left a sharp and concise impression on her. “I would summarize my time at DU Law in three words: challenging, enlightening, rewarding.” The late ’60s and early ’70s were times of great change, and that change came hard. The people leading the way, such as law student Joy Flowers, had to struggle for every inch of progress. “There were very few women in the program—only six out of 140—and we were generally not looked on as being able to succeed. Men didn’t even want us in study groups, so we formed our own. We met every Friday and studied all night from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. Contrary to the expectations, we were all successful.” Already held to a superior standard by virtue of being law students, the women in law school at that time were performing under added pressure. Their every move was carefully monitored and dissected. Despite this reality, Joy Flowers did not shy away from opportunities—she embraced them. “I was the first woman editor of the Law Review, which meant more scrutiny.” As in all her endeavors, she met that scrutiny with excellence, earning her J.D. degree summa cum laude in 1973. After graduation she continued to wholeheartedly pursue her career in law despite lingering sexist stereotypes. Her first

step was serving as a law clerk to Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Louis L. Manderino, former dean of the Law School. Then, in 1974, she became the first woman lawyer to be hired by Kirkpatrick, Lockhart, Johnson & Hutchinson, now known as K&L Gates LLP, one of the largest law firms in the world. “Each situation brought its own set of difficulties, but my education at Duquesne prepared me very well to compete with anyone, anywhere.” In 1976, she accepted a position as a member of the faculty at the Law School. “Dean Ron Davenport was an outstanding leader who had a significant impact on my career. He encouraged me to come back to Duquesne as a professor, so he was both a teacher and valued colleague. I still admire him and draw upon his teachings today.” In 1982, she returned to private practice with K&L Gates, and joined Buchanan Ingersoll Professional Corporation as a shareholder in 1996. Throughout her career she has continued to draw upon her years at Duquesne—and to draw from the people who shared their experience and insight along the way. “Bob Broughton, a professor of property law, was a particularly strong influence on me, then and now.” Robert P. Broughton was a leader of the environmental law movement, devoting much of his life to environmental causes. He was one of the founding members of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, and he wrote that organization’s bylaws. Among his many accomplishments, Broughton was the first chairman of the Allegheny County Air Pollution Variance Board and served as chairman of the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board. He left an indelible mark as a creative spirit and an exceptional law professor, especially on Judge Conti. “Possessing a calm personality, Bob always helped even out conflicts among faculty. And he was ahead of his time, walking around with a backpack slung over his shoulder and being casually dressed at a time when ties and briefcases were standard. The students loved him.” An avid mountain climber, Broughton died in 1977 while climbing Nanga Parbat, a mountain in Pakistan. As Judge Conti is proud to affirm, his spirit and energy continue to thrive in the lives and careers of his students and colleagues. The Honorable Joy Flowers Conti, L’73

The Honorable Maureen P. Kelly, L’87

As is typical among alumni of the Law School, Judge Conti is keen to provide encouragement and insight for current and future law students. “Always strive for excellence. Go that extra step, don’t ever be satisfied with anything less than the best argument,” she offers. “And always remember your reputation goes before you. Do your best ethically. Nothing substitutes for a good reputation in law.” The Honorable Maureen P. Kelly, L’87, Chief Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, graduated from the University of Notre Dame before attending the School of Law. She began her career as a civil trial lawyer with Thorp, Reed & Armstrong and joined Babst, Calland, Clements & Zomnir as a shareholder in 1999. Her excellence as a trial lawyer led to her induction into the Academy of Trial Lawyers in 1996, American College of Trial Lawyers in 2007 and the Litigation Council of America in 2008. Judge Kelly’s commitment to excellence has resulted in the federal and state courts appointing her to serve in multiple leadership roles. She was appointed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to serve as Chair of the Interest on Lawyers Trust Account Board for five years. She has also served as an appointed member of the Lawyers Advisory Committee to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit as well as Chair of the Merit Selection Panel for the Selection and Appointment of Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. A strong advocate for ensuring the civil legal rights of the financially needy, Judge Kelly served as co-chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Task Force on Student Loan Forgiveness and as an appointed member on the Task Force on the Delivery of Legal Services to the Poor. She has served as president of the Neighborhood Legal Services Association and chaired the annual Equal Justice Under Law Campaign. Championing equality within the legal system has been another hallmark of her career, to which end she is currently co-chair of the Allegheny County Bar Association Gender Equality Institute Committee. Kelly’s accomplishments have not gone unnoticed by her alma mater. She was named Woman of the Year in May 2004 by the Women’s Law Association of Duquesne University School of SUMMER 2015

Law and was given the 1999 Duquesne Law Alumni Association’s Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award for her achievements in the legal profession and service to the community. This is just a small sampling of her official accolades, as her portfolio includes a wide array of honors and awards recognizing her professional achievements. Her career is symbolic of the success available to those who are deeply committed to the finest ideals of the legal profession—and who have dedicated themselves wholly to that pursuit. As she recently explained to the Pittsburgh Business Times, “After working for almost 25 years as a civil trial lawyer at two large Pittsburgh law firms, I was appointed in June of 2011 to serve as a United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. From a professional standpoint, I had always worked hard to earn a reputation as a respected member of the trial bar and the legal community. It was a tremendous honor and responsibility to be appointed to the court.” As with her fellow Duquesne alumni serving on the bench, Judge Kelly places great importance on giving to the community and in giving back to the law students and legal professionals following in her esteemed footsteps. “It is imperative that young professionals commit themselves to professional excellence and demonstrate a true dedication to their chosen field. In addition, I also believe that part of being a professional is involvement in the community. I encourage young people to think about what issues are important to them and seek out opportunities in the community to have an impact and help address those issues.” The Honorable Jeffery A. Deller, L’96, is the chief bankruptcy judge for the United States bankruptcy court, Western District of Pennsylvania. At the time of his appointment in 2005, Judge Deller was one of the youngest sitting federal judges in the country. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.A. in Economics and Political Science before earning his J.D., cum laude, from Duquesne. For Judge Deller, being a student at the Law School was a new and exciting experience. “I came from a working class family in Pittsburgh. My father was a roofer and my mother was a cashier at a store. I was the first in my family to go to a college The Honorable Jeffery A. Deller, L’96

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of any sort, so law school was particularly foreign to me. But Duquesne felt like home. The administration and faculty truly made the situation comfortable.” He had to work during the day to help pay his way through evening school. “Law school was all work and no play. Before I started classes, I began working in the clerk’s office at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, which helped pay for some of my tuition and introduced me to the legal system. I would simply work all day, go to class at night, and study over the weekends. Such was my routine for four years.” The financial realities and time constraints were not the only difficulties to manage. “Being a student at Duquesne was a huge challenge. The Socratic method of teaching was in vogue at the time. It challenged me and forced me to always be prepared, which has made me a better lawyer.” Prior to becoming a judge, Deller was a shareholder with Klett Rooney Lieber & Schorling, P.C. He has also worked as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law as well as at Duquesne. Among his many official accolades, he received the Young Lawyer of the Year Award from the Allegheny County Bar Association and the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Duquesne University Law Alumni Association. Considered one of the country’s leading experts on bankruptcy and the law, Judge Deller is the editor-in-chief of the American Bankruptcy Law Journal. He credits his education with providing a solid foundation for his career. “The Law School’s emphasis on legal ethics and advocacy helped in some tough cases. In the area of advocacy, I learned to make my record before the Court in a respectful way. Avoiding ad hominem, I concentrated on just the facts and the law only.” Decorum and presentation are also key to his success, traits that he absorbed during his years as a law student. “Professor Robert Byer once told me that it is the lawyer’s job to make his or her case, and if necessary explain to the court why perhaps the court’s view is wrong (if it truly is). In one of my first cases, I appeared at a hearing before the state trial judge. The judge inquired as to where the named partner of my firm was that day. When I responded that I did not know where he was, and that I was the lawyer handling the case, the judge quipped, ‘Well, if your firm sent such a young lawyer, that tells me that your claim is not worth very much.’ I was flabbergasted. But instead of being indignant with the judge, I simply advised the court in a calm fashion that if the court would give me a chance, I would demonstrate the merits of my client’s claim—which I did. The lesson here is that a lawyer has a duty to advocate and yet be civil, which is a balance I was taught at Duquesne Law School.” Judge Deller carries that gratitude toward his alma mater close to his heart, and he gladly shares his experience and wisdom with current law students and fledgling lawyers. “Take real ownership of your legal education. One thing I learned at Duquesne is that practicing law is not a ‘job;’ it’s a career that lasts a lifetime—a lifetime of tremendous responsibility, but also a lifetime of rewards. If you work hard, treat others fairly and do your homework, your career will flourish.” Judge Deller’s career is a fine testament to that statement.

Dean Gormley’s Nomination to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court State Senator Jay Costa, Jr., L’89

One of the reasons that I chose Duquesne University School of Law was that it has a long-standing commitment to serving others and a rich tradition of producing graduates who are committed to public service. Dean Ken Gormley has made service a hallmark of his leadership at the Law School, creating new public service fellowships, pro bono opportunities and community clinics for our students, among other initiatives. It has been impressive, as an alumnus of the Law School, to see these many advances. Dean Gormley’s commitment to service, in fact, is what made me particularly proud earlier this year to recommend to Governor Tom Wolf that he nominate our dean to serve on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the highest court in this Commonwealth. I was joined by many governmental leaders across the state in strongly supporting this appointment and applauding Governor Wolf’s nomination of Dean Gormley. County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Mayor Bill Peduto and Congressman Mike Doyle all agreed that this would be great for the region, for Duquesne University, and for the whole Commonwealth if Dean Gormley was chosen to fill a one-year vacancy on the High Court. Dean Gormley’s work as a constitutional law scholar and as author of the leading treatise on the Pennsylvania Constitution, his service to the local bar (he was the first academic to serve as president of the Allegheny County Bar Association), and his extensive work with the Court over the years all make him an extremely qualified and distinguished choice for the Supreme Court. Governor Wolf recognized his qualifications in making the Feb. 4 announcement, stating that he believed Dean Gormley and the second nominee would execute their duties “with the highest standards of ethics and judicial temperament.” The nomination of Dean Gormley (a Democrat) along with the president judge of a trial court in the central part of the state (a Republican) was the result of a highly collaborative, bipartisan process involving Senate leaders from both sides of the aisle. After his nomination, pursuant to our internal procedures, Dean Gormley reached out to all 50 senators to arrange meetings and to discuss his qualifications for this important position. The response among my Senate colleagues was overwhelmingly positive in every way; there is no question that Dean Gormley would have been confirmed unanimously. Since the nomination was structured as a package, when the other nominee withdrew his name from consideration the day prior to the scheduled confirmation hearings, it was impossible to have another person nominated, paperwork submitted and hearings held in time for the Court’s early March arguments. All along, Republican Leader Jake Corman and I had understood that these nominations could only move forward in the spirit of bipartisanship if there was one Democrat and one Republican. Also, it was impossible to appoint only one justice because this would result in an even number of justices (six)

on the Court. Regrettably, there was no way for the Senate to proceed before our adjournment, and the clock ticked out on the nomination. Dean Gormley was professional and upbeat at every stage of the process. He was enthusiastic about being able to contribute to the Court’s important work. In speaking with several justices on the Court, I know that they were looking forward to benefitting from his expertise, his balanced temperament and his deep commitment to our justice system. At the same time, Dean Gormley was aware of the practicalities. He was gracious to the end, sitting down with me and Senator Corman to tell us that he fully understood our predicament once the other nominee withdrew. There’s no question that he would have been confirmed overwhelmingly. There’s also no question that he would have made a significant contribution to the Supreme Court, even during the short span of time (10 months) left on the interim appointment. In the end, it was still a shining moment for the Law School: It was a great honor for Dean Gormley, for Duquesne University, and for Western Pennsylvania. Out of tens of thousands of lawyers and judges, the governor selected Duquesne Law School’s dean for this important position of public trust. And Dean Gormley stepped forward, willing to serve our Commonwealth. It was also inspirational to see that Duquesne University’s president, Dr. Charles Dougherty, fully supported Dean Gormley’s nomination and was prepared to approve a 10-month leave of absence so that he could engage in this important form of public service. It is one thing to talk about public service. It is another thing to act on it. All of this speaks volumes about Duquesne University, our Law School, and the genuine commitment to use our talents and resources for the benefit of others. The lessons of service are many, and we in a Duquesne community are fortunate to have our administrative leaders, alumni, faculty and students who know how to accept the tests of public service and use them to benefit our fellow citizens. It’s a deep part of the identity that we all share, that makes Duquesne University School of Law such a special place. In this case, it was on display for the whole Commonwealth to see. Fortunately, this only enhances our standing as a great example of leadership on the statewide and national stages. Senator Jay Costa (D-Forest Hills) is serving his fifth full term as state Senator from the 43rd District. His Senate colleagues elected him as Democratic leader in 2010 and re-elected him in 2012 and 2014 as the highest-ranking member within the Senate Democratic caucus. SUMMER 2015

Recognizing a Legacy of Courage:

The Honorable Donetta Ambrose Endowed Scholarship Phil Rice, Contributing Writer

Five years ago, Vincent J. Quatrini, Jr., L’74, began a quest to establish an endowment for a Duquesne University School of Law student from Westmoreland County, Pa. A lifelong resident of the county, Quatrini felt a strong desire to give back to his home area as well as to support the students of his alma mater. “The journey started as a general campaign to establish an endowment, and along the way, we decided it would be an excellent way to recognize Judge Ambrose for her contributions at the county and federal level,” Quatrini said. The end result was the establishment of the Honorable Donetta Ambrose Endowed Scholarship to be awarded to students from Westmoreland County who have demonstrated financial need. Quatrini is a managing and founding partner of the law firm Quatrini Rafferty, P.C. Over the past 40 years, he has established himself as a powerful voice and influential attorney, particularly in the area of workers’ compensation. He has few peers as a legal advocate for injured workers in state and federal courts.

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Among his many awards and accomplishments, in 2013, Quatrini received the prestigious Irvin Stander Award for Professional Excellence, an honor bestowed by the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Workers Compensation Law Section recognizing an attorney whose dedication, professionalism and regard for clients and colleagues serve as an example to others. A participant in numerous ongoing philanthropic projects, Quatrini is a founder of the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, a charitable vehicle designed to provide all individuals, regardless of economic status, with the opportunity to positively impact the lives of people within their community. This spirit of sharing his talents and experience with others is apparent in his initiation of an endowment scholarship for the School of Law. “We as attorneys lose sight of the fact that people who have decided to go into law have no reference point for what they are getting into financially,” said Quatrini. “Having an endowment takes some of the pressure off and also serves as an opportunity for the students to recognize that those who came before them are paying it forward—something they in turn will have the opportunity to do in the future.” He uses the nominal plural pronoun because he is acutely aware that establishing a scholarship has been a group project. “Dean Gormley came out and spoke to the Westmoreland Bar Association on behalf of this effort,” he continued. “Jeanine DeBor, director of law alumni relations, kept the project on track for years. Fellow alumni David DeRose, Daniel Joseph and Marie Milie Jones provided invaluable assistance and critical financial commitments. Plus we received the endorsement of the Westmoreland Bar Association, who will participate in the selection process. Raising money is difficult—the endowment simply wouldn’t have happened without the joint effort of these folks and others.” Associating the name and legacy of the Honorable Donetta Ambrose with the scholarship was a natural progression. “As Westmoreland County citizens seeking to establish an endowment for one of our own, we realized that there was no better way to do so than by honoring one of our own in the process,” Quatrini explained. “Judge Ambrose has established a legacy of excellence and evenhandedness in all of her endeavors. She was an obvious choice.”

The Honorable Donetta Wypiski Ambrose was born in New Kensington, Pa., the daughter of Chester J. and Mary Groza Wypiski. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Duquesne in 1967, and was awarded a J.D. cum laude from the School of Law in 1970. One of only three women in the class of 1970, struggling with the demands and expectations of a difficult career choice was compounded by a pervasively sexist society housing the legal system she was determined to serve. But she would not take any backward steps. As she remembered, “We were a small but hardy bunch who refused to be daunted.” Despite her high academic standing, she received no interview offers from any law firms. Fully aware that she was in the first wave of women in an evolving legal profession, she did not let the initial setback deter her ambition, and her talents and determination did not go unnoticed. When then Dean of the Law School, Louis L. Manderino, accepted a position as a judge for the Court of Common Pleas of Pennsylvania, he chose Donetta Ambrose to be his law clerk. When Judge Manderino moved to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania the next year, he wisely brought his stellar clerk with him. Ambrose’s career in law was underway, and she excelled at every turn. She served as an Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 1972 to 1974, and engaged in the general practice of law from 1974 to 1982. She was also an Assistant District Attorney for Westmoreland County from 1977 to 1982, and in this capacity she particularly distinguished herself as a prosecutor in the high-profile murder trial of Michael J. Travaglia and John C. Lesko. Travaglia and Lesko had gone on a six-day killing spree from Dec. 27, 1979 until Jan. 3, 1980. Perpetuated without any apparent motive, the crimes became known in the media as the “Kill for Thrill” murders. They shot and killed Peter Levato, 49, in Loyalhanna Township, then murdered Marlene Sue Newcomer, 26, a single mother who made the mistake of offering the hitchhiking killers a ride along Route 66. The next victim was William Nicholls, 46, who was beaten, shot and finally drowned in an Indiana County lake. The next day Travaglia and Lesko drove Nicholls’ Italian Lancia sports car back and forth in front of rookie police officer Leonard Miller’s patrol car, daring the officer to give chase. When Miller took the bait and pulled them over, he was shot in the chest and the throat. A popular and idealistic policeman, Miller was just 21 at the time of his murder.

“As Westmoreland County citizens seeking to establish an endowment for one of our own, we realized that there was no better way to do so than by honoring one of our own in the process. Judge Ambrose has established a legacy of excellence and evenhandedness in all of her endeavors. She was an obvious choice.” SUMMER 2015

The public was horrified and outraged by the events and demanded justice, but those dedicated to seeking justice must remain unaffected by the frenzied crowd. Assistant District Attorney Donetta Ambrose proved herself to be more than up to the task of bringing justice to the proceedings. Following various delays caused by changes of venue and a mistrial, the trial commenced on Jan. 21, 1981, before Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Gilfert Mihalich and a jury selected in Berks County. The prosecution was exhaustive and authoritative in the presentation of the case, efficiently covering any perceived options for the defense. The jury found both men guilty of the first degree murder of Officer Miller on Jan. 30, 1981. On Feb. 3, 1981, the jury, finding aggravating circumstances which outweighed any mitigating circumstances, imposed the death penalty on both of the convicted murderers. Through it all, Ambrose demonstrated her ability to consistently keep the objective facts in the forefront, remaining firm and resolute in an emotionally-charged environment. Her demonstration of superior skill and strength of character left an indelible impression on all who were involved in the proceedings. Following her high-profile success, Ambrose was elected to the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas in November of 1981, serving with distinction from 1982 until her appointment to the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on Nov. 24, 1993. On the recommendation of Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Harris Wofford, she had been nominated by President Bill Clinton on Oct. 25, 1993, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Nov. 20, 1993. In 2002, she began service as the chief judge of the court, the first woman to hold the position. She served with consistent acumen until assuming senior status on Nov. 5, 2010. At the Celebration of 100 Years of Duquesne Women in the Law in 2011, Judge Ambrose received the Carol Los Mansmann Award for Distinguished Public Service. The award, given by the Federal Bar Association of Pennsylvania in consultation with the Duquesne Law School and the Mansmann family, was first bestowed upon U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor in 2001. For Ambrose the award was especially gratifying—she had been a friend and protégé of Carol Los Mansmann. “I knew I wanted to be as much like Carol as I could,” Ambrose said. “Carol is an inspiration of what a good judge should be. Personally, she is an inspiration of what a good woman—a good person—should be.” “Judge Mansmann left her permanent mark, but in the same way, so has Judge Ambrose,” Dean Gormley declared. “She has brought a great deal of pride to Duquesne’s Law School because of her professionalism. Judge Ambrose has gone on to receive a host of national assignments in the federal judiciary that have really raised the Law School’s profile because she is so highly regarded across the nation.”

Throughout her remarkable journey, Judge Ambrose has been active in the Pennsylvania Commission for Women in the Profession, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region, and various civic, religious and charitable activities. She is held in as high esteem for her humanitarian pursuits as she is for her exceptional legal career. In discussing the establishment of the scholarship bearing her name, Judge Ambrose is characteristically gracious, making sure to share the honor with her friends, colleagues and supporters. “I would like to thank Vince Quatrini for leading the way toward the establishment of this endowment and for recognizing me in his philanthropic efforts. Not only is Vince a great lawyer, he is also a valued friend whom I respect and admire. Thanks also to Jeanine DeBor, Marie Jones, Dan Joseph and David DeRose. They are all dear friends and trusted colleagues. David was my paperboy in his youth and, then, my very first law clerk!” And she keeps the focus on the true purpose of the scholarship—supporting the students and the spirit of the Law School. “Throughout my professional life I have been helped by more people than I can count and many of them were here, at Duquesne University. Special thanks to Dean Gormley for his constant encouragement, support and friendship. To have my name associated with the opportunity for a Westmoreland County resident to gain a law degree at my alma mater is a humbling but gratifying experience. I am grateful beyond measure.” As described by U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti, L’73, Judge Ambrose “is a woman who epitomizes grace, courage and intelligence.” That is a fitting introduction to the legacy being venerated by the Honorable Donetta Ambrose Endowed Scholarship. And the students from the School of Law will carry the legacy forward, perpetuating the spirit of service and giving— and excellence—so closely associated with the extraordinary Duquesne alum from Westmoreland County.

Judge Ambrose receiving the Mansmann Award (with Dean Gormley, Judge Conti and Patrick Sorek, Esq.).

THE DUQUESNE LAWYER

L AW S CHO O L NEWS

Duquesne Law Rises in Rankings for Third Year in Row Duquesne Law has risen in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools rankings for the third time in three years. The magazine now ranks Duquesne 118 (up from 121 last year) in a tie with Mercer Law, Texas Tech and Willamette University College of Law.“We are thrilled that Duquesne Law School has moved up in the national rankings for the third year in a row,” said Dean Ken Gormley. “This directly reflects the fact that, with the full support of the University, we have consciously maintained our entering standards while many other law schools have compromised those standards in order to fill seats. The high bar passage rates achieved by our graduates, and our nationally ranked Legal Research and Writing program, have also gained

well-deserved attention and increased our standing vis-a-vis our peers across the country. These rankings are especially noteworthy because they confirm, in a vivid fashion, that Duquesne Law School’s star is on the rise.” The legal writing program is again ranked as one of the best in the country, this year at No. 14, tied with Drexel, Ohio State and the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill. And the parttime J.D. program came in at 48 again this year. In 2013, Duquesne placed among top-tier law schools for the first time in a decade. In 2014, Duquesne jumped up 23 spots, one of the largest leaps that year and tied with seven other institutions, including DePaul University in Chicago.

Duquesne University Paralegal Institute Now Housed in School of Law The Duquesne Paralegal Institute is now housed in the University’s School of Law, making it one of only three in the United States—and the only one in the region—approved by the American Bar Association and administered by a law school. “We are excited to create this new partnership with the Paralegal Institute that has established a reputation for excellence over the last 30 years,” said Dean Ken Gormley. “Our goal is to create the top program in the country, based upon this unique collaborative effort. We’re thrilled that the Paralegal Institute will now contribute to the Law School’s growing national reputation and our commitment to excellence in all facets of legal education.” More than 1,900 individuals have graduated from the Paralegal Institute in the past 30 years.   According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, paralegal and legal assistant careers are expected to grow an average of 17 percent through 2022, faster than the average of other occupations. The Paralegal Institute at Duquesne offers an indepth educational program and practical skills, access to two law libraries, and personalized attention in the classroom. “We look forward to supporting and working with Pamela Bailey, the program director of the Paralegal Institute, to continue to build the program to become the gold standard for paralegal education in the country,” said Frank Liu, professor and associate dean for legal programs, who oversees the institute. Paralegal classes are offered in Libermann and Rockwell Halls four nights per week from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for 11 weeks during the program’s winter (January-March), spring

Paralegal Institute graduates in December 2014.

(April-June), summer (June-August) and fall (SeptemberDecember) terms. An intensive summer program offers full-time study between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, during which students can complete the entire certificate program of 10 courses over a 12-week period. The post-baccalaureate program offers certificates in general practice and specialty areas: • Certificate in General Practice • Certificate in Civil Litigation Concentration • Certificate in Corporate Law Concentration • Certificate in Estates Concentration • Certificate in Litigation Technology Concentration. For more information on the School of Law’s Paralegal Institute, visit www.duq.edu/law/paralegal, call 412.396.1643 or email paralegal@duq.edu.

SUMMER 2015

Advanced Legal Writing: Drafting Jan M. Levine, Associate Dean for Teaching Excellence Professor of Law and Director, Legal Research & Writing Program lawprofessors.typepad.com1 For more than two decades, at three law schools,2 I have been teaching an advanced legal writing course that builds upon the foundation created in the first-year writing courses3 and introduces students to new drafting skills. I developed the course because I found that law students rarely had any exposure in law school to work on many of the types of documents prepared by lawyers; when I was in practice as a public-interest advocate and state agency counsel,4 most of my time was spent on correspondence and working with statutory and regulatory materials. I learned in practice that changing the rules was usually a better way to change the law than was litigation; most wide-ranging reforms come from drafting or amending statutes, by rewriting regulations, changing policy or procedure manuals, or writing similarly-structured “rules of the game.” Even if law reform begins with litigation, any resulting institutional or societal change almost always requires systemic implementation by employing similar methods and documents. Furthermore, it was apparent to me that few attorneys were good at this kind of work, although all lawyers, at some point in their careers, needed to be able to prospectively solve problems by employing similar techniques. The course I developed has a dual focus. The first is on identifying and meeting the needs of diverse audiences for legal writing, via various types of correspondence5 and then a trial memorandum in opposition to a motion in limine.6 The second focus is on working with statutory and regulatory materials,

which weaves through the various types of documents the students prepare. The final project in the course requires students to solve a personally-identified legal or quasi-legal problem by drafting a report about the problem and a statute, ordinance, regulation, procedural rule, or a similar solution. That final course project constitutes half of the grade in the course and meets either the upper-level writing requirement (which now requires a paper that is 7,500 words long) or the skills requirement.7 Each student must offer an in-class presentation based on a draft of his or her project, prompting feedback and critique by the other members of the section and by me, which is followed by submission of a final background report and a final draft of the statute or other similar document. The students appear to enjoy greatly the opportunity to write about something they care about, and to connect their law school training with something “in the real world.” The results often exceed the students’ own expectations because they were personally invested in creating solutions to problems that vexed them. Although students may come up with a final project on their own, I encourage them to seek out federal, state, or local officials, or special interest groups, and ask about their concerns; many have found government officials and interest groups very willing to work with them to help craft a draft of a statute or ordinance of benefit to the organization or individual that might actually make it into law. Many students have met with state or local legislators or officials, spoken with lawyers for nonprofit organizations and non-governmental organizations, and some have even been able to speak with officers of national sports leagues. Several times I have had state legislators, judges, and other persons from outside the Law School come to class to hear a reprise performance of some of the students’ final presentations.8 Several Duquesne students, including some who have been working part-time with the City of Pittsburgh, have drafted

I learned in practice that changing the rules was usually a better way to change the law than was litigation; most wide-ranging reforms come from drafting or amending statutes, by rewriting regulations, changing policy or procedure manuals, or writing similarly-structured “rules of the game.” 16

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And better yet, over the years some have even had their drafts enacted into law, in whole or in part. solutions to local problems ranging from housing blight to the taxing of nonprofit organizations. Others have focused on housing banks, rental apartment security, a tenant’s bill of rights, and licensing of companies offering “ride sharing” via smartphone applications (last spring I sent this student’s paper to the involved public officials). Many students come into the course planning to address a problem which they had become aware of from work in the Law School clinic, from a summer public interest or public service position, or from an externship. One student redrafted the Pennsylvania unemployment insurance statutes after learning about systemic problems during her time in the school’s unemployment insurance clinic. Another student who had an externship with a state trial court judge drafted a court rule, at the request of the judge, governing contempt of attorneys who failed to appear for court, for use by a committee the judge was chairing. A student who worked for an AIDS-advocacy group prepared a statute granting HIV+ persons a cause of action for discrimination based on stigma. Another redrafted the real estate tax assessment system for Pennsylvania. Of course, many of the students choose to address problems in Pennsylvania law that are very newsworthy. These projects have included permitting medical marijuana use for children with seizures (the final paper was submitted to me in the spring of 2014, at the same time that the governor announced his support for the idea). Several have addressed environmental problems associated with fracking and natural gas extraction; one Penn State graduate revised the child abuse reporting statute to address the problems revealed by the Jerry Sandusky scandal; another drafted a comprehensive statute regulating and licensing body art; one student came up with a system to deal with the dangers of coal ash storage and disposal; and another student drafted a student athlete “Bill of Rights” addressing scholarships and health insurance. Many of the projects have applied the techniques of plainEnglish legislative drafting in what we often think of as nonlegislative contexts, such as rules governing sports. Some avid hockey fans revised NHL rules governing issues ranging from concussions from body checks to game rules about icing and kicking the puck. Several former student athletes have revised NCAA regulations, ranging from storage and dispensing of

medication to athletes to a proposal to change the compensation rules for student athletes (the presentation about this project was offered during the week the NLRB decided to allow college football players to vote to unionize as employees). Federal law projects have included a proposed federal “Shield Law” for journalists, revising airport passenger security screening protocols, proposals to change federal conflict-ofinterest rules for persons serving on food safety and related agency review panels (which helped the student land her dream job in Washington, D.C.), and rules for labeling food containing ingredients from genetically-modified organisms. Closer to the students’ day-to-day lives, several have written papers related to the Law School and University, including proposing changes to the Law School’s course registration system and the Law School’s grading system. Both of those papers proved useful in changing both those systems. The Law School faculty recently approved putting outstanding student papers on the school’s website, and several papers prepared for the course have been approved for web placement. Furthermore, several students who took the course since I developed it have had their papers, or follow-up projects, published by law journals. And better yet, over the years some have even had their drafts enacted into law, in whole or in part.

1. A shorter version of this article appeared at http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/ legislation_law/2014/03/skills-professor-jan-levines-legislative-drafting- courseat-duquesne-1.html (accessed May 14, 2014). 2. Before coming to the Duquesne University School of Law in 2006, I taught this course at the University of Arkansas–Fayetteville and Temple University. 3. At virtually every law school in the nation, first-year students are trained in legal analysis, research, and objective and persuasive writing via legal research to prepare office memoranda and appellate briefs. Although few attorneys will actually write an appellate brief and deliver an oral argument, appellate materials form the basis of virtually all law school courses and casebooks. Even when office memoranda is becoming more informal in tone and shorter in length, there is no better way to train students in basic legal analysis. Whether that is wise or not is outside the scope of this article, but the appellate focus does introduce students in all courses to the written voice of the appellate judge and the role of the appellate courts, giving the students the ability to imagine writing to such an audience. For better or worse, the trial judge is an audience foreign to most firstyear law students and a creature absent from most first-year courses. 4. Before going into full-time teaching, I was a staff attorney at Boston University working on public interest law in the areas of disability law, mental health law, juvenile law, and elder law. I then worked for two Massachusetts agencies as inhouse counsel and trial attorney, in areas of child advocacy, licensing of day care programs and foster care and adoption agencies, and litigation involving child protective services. 5. The types of correspondence include job application letters, client letters, and demand letters. 6. That trial memorandum assignment is cast in a format similar to the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners’ Performance Text, serving yet another purpose. 7. To comply with the American Bar Association accreditation rules all law schools must require students to complete an upper-level writing project and to take a course with a skills component. Students must meet those requirements via two separate courses. See ABA Standards and Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools, Rule 302(a), http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/ publications/misc/legal_education/Standards/2013_2014_final_aba_standards_ and_rules_of_procedure_for_approval_of_law_schools_body.pdf (accessed May 14, 2014). 8. At Duquesne, we are lucky to have many supportive graduates who are legislators or judges. Visitors to the course have included Senator Jay Costa and Representative Brandon Neuman (who took this course when he was a 3-L student).

SUMMER 2015

Al Peláez: More than a Professor Jacob H. Rooksby, Assistant Professor of Law

For the first time in nearly 50 years, students at Duquesne Law School will take courses in contracts, federal courts, and admiralty law without the formative in-classroom presence of one of our most legendary colleagues, Distinguished Professor of Law Alfred S. Peláez, who retired from full-time teaching during this academic year. Al Peláez’s impact on the law, the Law School, and the lives of thousands of students is truly incalculable. Peláez joined the full-time faculty in 1966. Known for his keen legal mind, insatiable interest in learning, and devotion to his family and to his students, from the beginning he was, in the truest sense of the phrase, a scholar and a gentleman. His widely cited work on admiralty law and other subjects appeared 10 times in Peláez teaching in 1969. Duquesne Law Review, beginning with his first article in 1968. He also wrote for other outlets and served as co-author of the admiralty volume of the multi-volume treatise, Moore’s Federal Practice. A Forest Hills native, Peláez went to public school in Edgewood before attending Pitt for college and law school, earning his degrees in 1957 and 1960. A superstar athlete, he played baseball, soccer and squash at the collegiate level. Pitt named Peláez a Varsity Letterman of Distinction in 1995. After five years of private practice in Pittsburgh, Peláez headed to Yale University as a Sterling Fellow to study for the LL.M. degree, which he received in 1966. During his year in New Haven, he had the honor of studying under several giants in the field, including Guido Calabresi, eventual judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and fellow Pittsburgher Robert Bork, another federal appellate jurist and, in 1987, nominee to the United States Supreme Court. Also at Yale, he met and befriended Professor James William Moore, who thought so highly of Peláez that he later asked him to contribute to and help update the famous treatise that bears his name. Peláez’s quick wit, passionate interest in the law, and high expectations for the classroom made lasting impressions on his students throughout the years. Thomas J. Herder, L’79, now vice president and general counsel of Siemens Energy, Inc. in Florida, distinctly remembers Peláez’s knack for teaching. “His love of the law was obvious. He clearly loved teaching and that enthusiasm really spilled over to the students. He made an impression on me, 18

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and I think he made an impression on all of us. He helped me get to where I am today.” William M. Diefenderfer, III, L’73—whose career includes service at the White House, legal counsel to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, and who now chairs the board of directors of Navient, Inc., the student-loan company—remembers Peláez as “always having a smile. Although his evening contracts class was challenging, he made law fun.” But he mostly remembers Peláez for something he did outside the classroom. After Diefenderfer’s first year of law school, he headed to Vietnam to serve his country. When the time came to return, the military wrote Duquesne to inquire when Diefenderfer would need to be back on campus for the start of classes in the spring semester. The technical answer was given, with the date being the first day of classes in early January. When Peláez learned of this exchange, he took it upon himself to write a second letter to the military, “correcting” the first letter by stating that Diefenderfer had to be home no later than December 23. No one had asked him to do this, let alone Diefenderfer, who recalls “I got home for Christmas, which was a big deal for me and my family, and I have never forgotten that. Other than my family, no other single person has had more influence on me than Professor Peláez did. He was an inspirational teacher, but he was more than a professor. He was always gracious and considerate, and he helped me in a number of ways when he had no reason to.” Stories like Diefenderfer’s are not unusual to anyone who knows Professor Peláez. Chief Judge Joy Flowers Conti, L’73, was a student of Peláez’s, then his colleague for six years when she joined the full-time faculty in 1976, before returning to private practice and later joining the federal bench. “He was the epitome of professionalism,” she reflects. “His devotion to his students and the law set an example for everyone.” Ronald R. Davenport, dean of the Law School from 1970 through 1981, readily agrees. “He was an outstanding professor,” Davenport said. “Very imaginative and creative. Very supportive of the vision for the Law School to grow and to build its reputation. Al played catcher on the baseball team at Pitt and was

a good one. He brought that sense of solidity and guidance that a catcher gives his team to everything he did. He was a wonderful colleague.” The Law School’s current dean, Ken Gormley, says that Peláez is an icon among Duquesne Law School graduates: “No matter what part of the country I visit for alumni events, and no matter what age group is in attendance, I am always inundated with requests for the latest news on Professor Peláez. I’ve reached the point where I just pull out my cell phone and call Al’s home so that alums can speak with him directly. Many of them say that he was the single most important teacher and role model during their time in law school.” In addition to his renowned teaching and writing, Peláez was a widely respected attorney who often took on high-profile assignments in Pennsylvania and beyond. When former Law School Dean Louis L. Manderino joined the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 1972, it was not long before he asked Peláez to review and write reports regarding allocatur petitions the court received, which he did until Associate Justice Manderino’s untimely death in 1979. In the mid-1990s, Peláez became of counsel to the firm now known as Pietragallo, Gordon, Alfano, Bosick & Raspanti, LLP, where he worked for 14 years. “We had some extremely interesting cases with great clients,” Peláez said. His commercial litigation practice ran the gamut from labor law, to intellectual property, to complex products liability cases. Unsurprisingly, many of Peláez’s clients through the years have become his good friends. Professor Peláez’s relationship with Art Rooney, Jr., son of the Chief who founded the Pittsburgh Steelers, started as a professional one. Both living in Mt. Lebanon, they have attended Steelers games together for years. Of course, no tribute to Professor Peláez would be complete without mention of his family, whom he adores. His wife Bridget, who died in 2000, was the love of his life. They married in November of 1962. He credits her “for anything I have ever done—she was responsible for it, to be quite honest.” They have three children, Mara, Linda, and John, whom Peláez looks forward to spending additional time with in retirement. While he will continue to live in Pittsburgh, Peláez plans to spend part of the winter and spring in Berkeley, California, “close to terrific bookstores and nice coffee shops,” where his daughter Mara lives. Professor Peláez leaves behind several tangible legacies at the Law School. Supported by a generous gift from a Law

Peláez, holding grandson Rocco, with children Mara, John and Linda.

School alumnus wishing to honor Peláez, in 2009, the Law School constructed the Bridget and Alfred Peláez Legal Writing Center, which houses the Law School’s award-winning legal writing program. Peláez also was instrumental in establishing, along with Professor Frank Liu, the Law School’s long-running relationship with China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), based in Beijing, China. He served as a distinguished visiting professor at CUPL, where he first started lecturing in the early-1990s. He directed the Law School’s summer study program in Beijing through 2014, which was the country’s first ABAaccredited summer study program in China. The Duquesne Law Alumni Association recognized Professor Peláez at its annual dinner in April. Speaking from the heart, Peláez thanked the Law School and its alumni for “giving me the opportunity to do what I love in the place that I love.” That same month, and in recognition of his many accomplishments, the University bestowed upon Peláez the title Professor Emeritus. A discretionary appointment based on extraordinary teaching, scholarship, and service, emeritus status affords retired professors the chance to teach occasional courses in their respective schools, which Peláez plans to do. In a fitting sign of solidarity for a colleague held in such high esteem, the Law School faculty had earlier voted unanimously to recommend that the University confer this special distinction. While Peláez’s storied career may be winding down, those of us fortunate to have called him our professor, our colleague, or our friend know that his life’s work will carry on through the successes of all those he has taught and whose lives he has touched. Professor Peláez has a favorite parting phrase, “be good,” which his recent students and colleagues have grown accustomed to hearing him say, always accompanied by his trademark smile. No one with a career as successful as Al Peláez’s could be commemorated in just a few simple words, but being good at doing good could stand as a fitting epigraph to his personal and professional accomplishments. Professor Peláez’s life and career have been very good, indeed.

Al Peláez’s impact on the law, the Law School, and the lives of thousands of students is truly incalculable. SUMMER 2015

FAC U LT Y ACHIEVEMENT S

Steven Baicker-McKee PUBLICATIONS/ARTICLES

• Mastering Multiple Choice for Federal Civil Procedure (with Janssen, W.M.). St. Paul, Minn.: West. ISBN: 978-1628103380 (2015). • Federal Litigator, (2014, Oct.-2015, Feb.).

• “A ‘Catholic’ Justice?” Book Review of Scalia: A Court of One by B. A. Murphy. America, pp. 32-34 (2014, Dec. 22-29). • Review of the book Clergy Sexual Abuse: Social Science Perspectives, C.M. Renzetti & S. Yocum (Eds.). American Catholic Studies 125(3), 67-68 (2014).

Ken Gormley PUBLICATIONS/ARTICLES

• The Pennsylvania Constitution: A Treatise on Rights and Liberties (principal editor) (Bisel & Co. Philadelphia), 2014 Supplement (2014 December).

• Manuscript completed, The Presidents and the Constitution: A Living History (editor) (forthcoming, NYU Press, 2016). PRESENTATION

Professor Baicker-McKee (left) recently organized a professional squash tournament in Pittsburgh.

Robert S. Barker PUBLICATIONS/ARTICLES

• El precedente y su significado en el Derecho Constitucional de los Estados Unidos. Lima, Peru: Editorial Jurídica Grijley. (ISBN: 978-9972-04-461-8) (2014).

• President Ford’s Pardon of Richard M. Nixon. Waynesburg University, Stover Center for Constitutional Studies and Moral Leadership (2014, Nov, 18); Washington County Bar Association, Bench-Bar Conference (2015, Jan. 23). MEDIA

• Interview, “Toxic Partisanship, Bill Clinton Says He Had it Worse, Yet Got Things Done,” Amy Chozik, New York Times (2014, Oct. 24).

• Interview, “Amateurism Has an Influential Friend in Baylor’s Kenneth Starr,” Marc Tracy, New York Times (2014, Nov. 7).

Valarie Blake PUBLICATIONS/ARTICLES

• “Affirmative Action in Medical Education.” Lahey Health Medical Ethics Journal (2014). PRESENTATIONS

• The Affordable Care Act: Exploring the First Five Years and Looking to the Future. Sciullo CLE Series, Duquesne University School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pa. (2015, Feb. 28). • The Transformation and Future of Healthcare Ethics. Panelist at The Center for Connected Medicine’s Ethics in Today’s Evolving Healthcare (2014, Dec. 6). • Selective Contracting and Rights to Health Insurance for the Sick. Cleveland Clinic Bioethics Research Days. Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio (2014, Oct. 10). • Ethical Implications of ACA and Contract Refusal with Specialty Centers: Complex Patients at Risk? Cleveland Clinic, Emerging Ethical and Legal Challenges in Chronic Neurological Conditions. Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio (2014, Oct. 9).

Nicholas P. Cafardi PRESENTATION

• Testimony before the Senate Finance Committee regarding Senate Bill 4, tax on nonprofit organizations in Pennsylvania (2015, Feb. 4). PUBLICATIONS/ARTICLES

• Tax Exempt Organizations: Cases and Materials, 3rd ed. (with Jaclyn Fabean Cherry). New Providence, N.J.: LexisNexis (2014). 20

THE DUQUESNE LAWYER

Dean Gormley, pictured here with United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, participated in the Legal Services Corporation Annual Meeting (events at U.S. Supreme Court and White House) in Washington, D.C., April 14-15, 2015.

Kenneth E. Gray PUBLICATIONS/ARTICLES

• Mortgages in Pennsylvania. West’s Pennsylvania Practice Series (pocket part) (Vol. 15), 2014-2015 Supplement. St. Paul, Minn.: West (2015).

Martha W. Jordan

Wesley M. Oliver

PUBLICATIONS/ARTICLES

• “Protecting Your Charity in Charitable Giving” in Charitable Contribution Primer (Chapter one). PBI No. 2015-8642C (2015).

• “Domestic Violence, Gun Possession, and the Importance of Context.” Indiana Law Journal Supplement, 90, 36-42 (2014).

Rona Kaufman Kitchen

• Prohibition, Stare Decisis, and the Lagging Ability of Science to Influence Criminal Procedure. Loyola Constitutional Law Colloquium, Chicago, Ill. (2014, Nov. 7).

PRESENTATION

• Panel speaker, Mixed Messages and Missing Mothers: A Critique of State Responses to Violence Against Women. Violence Against Women Act 20th Anniversary Celebration: Fulfilling the Promise of Safety & Justice. Temple University Beasley School of Law, Philadelphia, Pa. (2014, Nov. 8).

Bruce Ledewitz PUBLICATIONS/ARTICLES

• “Deal Leaves Court Issues Unresolved.” Philadelphia Inquirer (2014, Oct. 30).

Tracey McCants Lewis PRESENTATION

• Legal Storytelling: The Murder of Voter ID in Pennsylvania. The 20th Mid-Atlantic People of Color (MAPOC) Conference, Works-in-Progress Session. West Virginia University College of Law. Morgantown, W.Va. (2015, Jan. 29-31). APPOINTMENT

• The Allegheny County Government Review Commission by County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.

Frank Y. Liu PUBLICATIONS/ARTICLES

• “Building Bridges of Understanding.” Views & Visions, 42-43 (2014). APPOINTMENT

• Associate Dean for Legal Programs

Joseph Sabino Mistick PUBLICATIONS/ARTICLES

• Ongoing weekly opinion column in Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, including “The Mister Rogers Model of Governance” (2015, Jan. 11).

Jane Campbell Moriarty PUBLICATIONS/ARTICLES

• Scientific Evidence, Vol. 1 (Supplement to Fifth Ed.) (with Giannelli, P. C., Imwinkelried, E. L., & Roth, A.). New Providence, N.J.: LexisNexis (2014). PRESENTATION

• Joint Defense and Common Interest Agreements: Legal and Ethical Considerations. Dickie McCamey Commercial Litigation Presentation CLE on legal ethics, Pittsburgh, Pa. (2014, Nov. 20).

PRESENTATION

John T. Rago PRESENTATIONS

• Testimony before Senate Judiciary Hearing re: conviction integrity, specifically, the science-based and experience-tested reforms adopted in Allegheny County for eyewitness examinations and the electronic recording of interrogations (2015, Feb. 11). • Post-conviction Actual Innocence Claims within a Constitutional Framework. Constitution Day, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg, Pa. (2014, Oct. 20).

Jacob H. Rooksby PUBLICATIONS/ARTICLES

• “Academic Integrity in the Digital World.” NASPA Leadership Exchange, 26-27 (Winter 2015). • “Learning to Litigate: University Patents in the Knowledge Economy” (with Pusser, B.). In Academic Capitalism in the Age of Globalization (pp. 74-93), Cantwell. B. & Kauppinin. I., Eds. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press (2014). • Interview by McCarthy, C. “Manage Challenges, Embrace Opportunities Of Social Media.” Student Affairs Today (2015, Feb. 25). PRESENTATIONS

• FERPA Update. 36th Annual National Conference on Law and Higher Education, sponsored by The Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law & Policy at Stetson University College of Law, Orlando, Fla. (2015, Feb. 14). • Social Media Legal Considerations. 36th Annual National Conference on Law and Higher Education, sponsored by The Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law & Policy at Stetson University College of Law, Orlando, Fla. (2015, Feb. 12). • Academic Capitalism and the Digital Humanities. Seminar on Academic Capitalism and the Humanities in Global Perspective. Invited panel discussant. University of Virginia, Curry School of Education, Charlottesville, Va. (2014, Nov. 18). • Governance, Academic Capitalism, and the Humanities. Seminar on Academic Capitalism and the Humanities in Global Perspective. Invited panel discussant. University of Virginia, Curry School of Education, Charlottesville, Va. (2014, Nov. 18). • Why Universities Are Key Players in Pharmaceutical R&D. Annual International Conference of Universities Allied for Essential Medicines. Invited panel discussant. Duke University, Sanford School of Public Policy, Durham, N.C. (2014, Nov. 7). • Private Rights, Public Goods: Higher Education’s Struggle with Intellectual Property. Invited Faculty Colloquium Speaker. Penn State College of Education, State College, Pa. (2014, Nov. 6). SUMMER 2015

FACU LT Y ACHIEVEM ENTS

HONORS

• Invited to join Bloomberg BNA’s in Practice: IP Advisory Council. • Invited to join Duquesne chapter of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. • Elected vice president of the Pittsburgh Intellectual Property Law Association.

Laurie Buchan Serafino PUBLICATIONS/ARTICLES

• “I Know My Rights, So You Gon’ Need a Warrant for That”: The Fourth Amendment, Riley’s Impact, and Warrantless Searches of Third-Party Clouds. Berkeley Journal of Criminal Law, 19(2), 154-205. Retrieved from www.bjcl.org (2014).

Kirsha W. Trychta PUBLICATIONS/ARTICLES

• “Using the Billable Hour to Help Shape Law Students’ Time Management Skills.” The Learning Curve, 13-15 (Winter 2015). PRESENTATIONS

• Moderator, Becoming a Practicing Attorney in Allegheny County. Practice for Success: Skills Training for Lawyers. Allegheny County Bar Association, Pittsburgh, Pa. (2014, Oct.17-18). • Panelist, What Every Lawyer Ought to Know About Criminal Practice. Practice for Success: Skills Training for Lawyers. Allegheny County Bar Association, Pittsburgh, Pa. (2014, Oct. 17-18).

Mark D. Yochum PRESENTATIONS

Featured ethics speaker at the following conferences: • The Capital City (Albany, N.Y.) and Vermont State Bar meeting, Manchester, Vt. (2015, March). • State Bar of Wisconsin’s annual meeting of the Insolvency Section at Kohler, Wis. (2015, March). • Allegheny County Bar Association Section of Taxation luncheon, Pittsburgh, Pa. (2015, March). • National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees Spring meeting, Charleston, S.C. (2015, February). • Allegheny County Bar Association Annual Bankruptcy Symposium, Pittsburgh, Pa. (2014, December).

Professor Yochum and Martin Sheehan, L’80, president, National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, at meeting in Charleston, S.C.

THE DUQUESNE LAWYER

Professor Yochum also appeared in the short play, The Harmonic Convergence, on May 1 at the Carnegie Library, Carnegie, Pa., as a fundraiser for the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. He will also be playing the Man in a Chair for Stage 62’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone in July (information at www.stage62.com). This October, Professor Yochum will star as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, the first production at the Genesius Project, Duquesne University’s new multipurpose theater.

Center for Legal Information Faculty Joel Fishman, Ph.D. PUBLICATIONS/ARTICLES

• “The Second Five [Presidents of the PBA 1899-1904],” The Pennsylvania Lawyer, 37 no. 1: 46-48 (2015, January/February). • Review of the book The Common Law in Colonial America: Volume II The Middle Colonies and the Carolinas 1660-1730 by W. Nelson. LH&RB, 20, no. 2, 20-22. (2014, October).

Tenure and Promotions Jan Levine and Wesley Oliver were promoted to the rank of full professor. Steven Baicker-McKee and Jacob Rooksby successfully completed their third year review process. University President Charles Dougherty appointed Alfred S. Peláez as Professor Emeritus: Distinguished University Professor, School of Law.

Duquesne Hosts National Legal Writing Conference On Dec. 6, 2014, more than 100 teachers from 21 states and the District of Columbia, including Duquesne University School of Law faculty members, law school professors from legal writing and academic support programs, and professors from undergraduate schools and colleges, gathered to hear 12 presentations from 13 professors in a national conference titled “Teaching the Academically Underprepared Law Student.” The conference was planned by Duquesne LRW Program Professors Jan Levine, Julia Glencer, Ann Schiavone and Tara Willke, and our Academic Success Program Director, Kirsha Trychta. The conference resulted from the financial support of Dean Ken Gormley; from the support of our Duquesne alumni, whose contributions have resulted in endowed funds enabling our writing program to put on such events; and three commercial sponsors: Bloomberg Law, Westlaw and Carolina Academic Press. The editorial board and members of the Duquesne Law Review helped with the administration of the conference; nine of the presentations resulted in articles in Volume 53, No. 1, of the Duquesne Law Review (Winter 2015). The theme of this conference was inspired by the excellent article titled “Bringing a Knife to a Gunfight: The Academically Underprepared Law Student & Legal Education Reform” (48 Val. L. Rev. 1 2013) which was written by two of the December 2014 presenters, Professors Ruth Vance and Susan Stuart from the Valparaiso University School of Law.

Law Alumni Office Updates Director of Law Alumni Relations and Development Jeanine DeBor was appointed to the Allegheny County Bar Foundation’s Board of Trustees. DeBor previously served as Chair of the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Women in the Law Division and currently serves on the membership, gender equality and gender bias committees.

Mary Olson is the new assistant in the office of law alumni relations. She is a recent graduate of Duquesne’s Paralegal Institute and received her bachelor’s degree from Allegheny College. Olson is currently studying to become a Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal.

Law School Professionals Updates Director of Career Services Maria Comas was recently elected co-president of the Women’s Bar Association of Western Pennsylvania. She was also re-elected to a second term on council for the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Women in the Law Division.

Estelle Feltovich is now the assistant to the associate dean and director of the Center for Legal Information. She previously worked in the office of law alumni relations, and received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

David McGeehan, assistant director of information technology, joins us from the School of Leadership, where he held a similar role. McGeehan earned his bachelor’s degree from Point Park University and his master’s degree from Duquesne University. He is completing his doctoral degree in Instructional Technology and Leadership, also from Duquesne.

Cathy Mellick is the new business manager and comes to the School of Law from Duquesne’s Finance and Business Division. Mellick’s work experience includes budget and financial analyst positions with Carnegie Mellon University and Mellon Bank and over 20 years as manager of her own small business. Mellick earned her bachelor’s degree in industrial management from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Business. Nicole Pasqualino is the part-time administrative assistant in the Registrar’s Office. Pasqualino received a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and biology from Duquesne University. She previously worked in Duquesne’s Psychology Clinic and Department.

Marlene Vatter is the assistant to the associate deans and coordinator of academic affairs. She previously worked in the Center for Legal Information, and has a bachelor’s degree from Duquesne University.

SUMMER 2015

L AW S CHO O L NEWS

Clinical Legal Education Updates Two Duquesne Law students launched an former Yugoslavia, all at The Hague; initiative to help fund filing fees for indigent pro the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil se clients of the Family Law Clinic. Stephanie Division, Commercial Litigation Branch in Philipp and Rebecca Canterbury recognized Washington, D.C.; and the U.S. Attorney’s clients’ special needs following a change to fee Office, Criminal Division in Atlanta. waiver procedures for custody complaints and Recently, the Veterans Clinic began other petitions. The students organized multiple to use “hearing voices training” to help events, including a bake sale and pub crawl, students understand specific challenges to raise funds for low-income clients to use faced by people with psychiatric disabilities. toward filing fees. Their efforts have drawn the Students also visit the HOPE Pod in the Phillipp and Canterbury attention and support of the Pittsburgh Family Allegheny County Jail and the Veterans Law bench and bar. Additionally, students of Service Unit at the State Correctional the clinic captured six of the 15 scholarships available to attend Institution, Pittsburgh, both of which prepare veterans to re-enter the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Family Law Section winter the community. Adjunct Professor Dan Kunz, L’02, serves as the meeting. The conference provided students with an opportunity clinic’s supervising attorney. to discuss careers in family law and meet one-on-one with mentor attorneys. Assistant Clinical Professor Katherine Norton serves as the clinic’s supervising attorney and the externship coordinator. Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala, L’84, requested assistance from Duquesne Law students to help track changes to property ownership and plan for prosecuting negligent landlords in McKeesport, Pa., following a fatal fire. Professor Joseph Sabino Mistick, supervising attorney of the Urban Development Practicum, arranged for students to work with the D.A.’s office and city officials. The externship program recently added the State Attorney’s Office of Florida, Miami-Dade Office, as an approved placement. Duquesne Law also began offering externships at the Hague Conference on Private International Law, Special Tribunal Professor Mistick with Urban Development Practicum students. for Lebanon, and the International Criminal Tribunal for the

The Hon. Max Baer, L’75, presided over the second annual PA Bar Admissions ceremony at the School of Law on Nov. 4.

THE DUQUESNE LAWYER

Young Alumni Profile: Brian Panucci, L’13 Home: Greensburg, Pa. Undergraduate Education: Robert Morris University, BSBA ’05 Employment: Associate Attorney at Meyer Darragh Buckler Bebenek & Eck, P.L.L.C. in Greensburg, focusing on Civil Litigation, Municipal Law and Family Law What is Panucci’s Promise, and why is it so important to you? Panucci’s Promise is a charitable fund run through Duquesne University School of Law that benefits the UPMC CancerCenter at Magee-Womens Hospital in memory of my mom, Peggy. Sitting with Mom during treatment gave me a sense of how difficult that process can be on the patient and their family. Being treated for cancer is a frightening time and, in the spirit of Peggy, we seek to comfort the patients. We made a donation of two massaging therapy chairs and two companion chairs for caregivers. Magee has a wonderful community of support, including the doctors, nurses and staff. How did this project get off the ground? Our family has a magnet that reads, “Kindness is someone who thinks of nice things then actually does them.” Once my classmates from 2013 (Alexis Long, John Bonaccorsi, Genevieve Pecharka, Gabrielle Carbonara, Bridget Daley, Phil Luciano, L’14) approached me with this idea, there was a real sense of urgency to make it happen. I also give credit to Dr. John Murray for agreeing to play piano at Legge Con Brio early on because it really gave our cause some legitimacy. Treatment for breast cancer or any cancer is tough physically, but it can also be very mentally taxing. Support from friends, family, employees, even total strangers is so important.

Brian Panucci with his mom, Peggy, and sister, Dana.

How do you fundraise for Panucci’s Promise? Legge Con Brio is the big event, put on the past four years by the Duquesne Italian American Law Society. We showcase the musical talents of professors, law students and alumni. Who would know that Ginevra Ventre is a classically trained cellist, or Eric Harvey plays a mean fiddle, just from meeting them in a professional environment? We also hold raffles with items generously donated by local businesses, and Professor Mark Yochum always entertains as our master of ceremonies. We also held a benefit concert with Professor Chris Daley and his band, Mace Ballard, along with Brandon Keller, L’12, and Rory Driscole, L’12. A few of us played guest bartender at Carson City Saloon. The Women’s Law Society and International Law Society put on bake sales. It has been humbling how new students step up every year to take leadership roles in the planning of our events. How much has been raised to date? In 2014, we raised over $10,000 since the fundraising efforts began. What is the value of a Duquesne University School of Law education? It gave me excellent preparation to meet with clients in practice and understand their needs. My professors not only taught me the technical aspects of the law, but also showed me how to apply that knowledge at law firms and in courtrooms. Professor Julia Glencer taught me the value of little details in your work, among so many other things. The law clinics really do a fantastic job of conveying real world experience. How did your legal education at Duquesne impact your passion for Panucci’s Promise? The Duquesne Law community takes care of its own. My classmates and the staff at Duquesne are so helpful, and alumni I had never met before support us. It is truly a team effort and I am so grateful for the support. I know my mom would be proud!

Harvey, Panucci, Pecharka and Carbonara at this year’s Legge Con Brio.

Learn more about the Panucci’s Promise at www.facebook.com/ panuccispromise. SUMMER 2015

63rd Annual Reunion Dinner Jeanine L. DeBor, Director, Law Alumni Relations and Development

Over 200 alumni attended the 63rd annual reunion dinner on the beautiful spring evening of April 17. The crowd enjoyed the talents of auctioneer/emcee Jon Perry, L’91, and a walk down Pittsburgh sports memory lane with special guest Bill Hillgrove. Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Saylor accepted the Professionalism and Public Service Award, and gave brief remarks on the state of the court. Alumni were also treated to a special recognition of retiring professor Al Peláez (see article on p. 18). Patricia “Patti” Dodge, L’81, was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumna Award. Dodge is the managing partner of Meyer, Unkovic & Scott LLP and has distinguished herself as a premier trial attorney and business leader in the Pittsburgh community. She is the recipient of many honors and distinctions, including Woman of the Year 2012 by The Legal Intelligencer. The Outstanding Achievement Award went to 1996 alumnus Travis Williams, COO and general counsel of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Among other duties, Williams guided the construction and development of CONSOL Energy Center on time and under budget. He is also the point person on development of the former Civic Arena site. Vincent “Vince” Quatrini, L’74, received the inaugural Dr. John E. Murray, Jr. Meritorious Service Award. While a DLAA board member, Quatrini steered the newly formed employment committee, which helps students and young alumni navigate the waters of their burgeoning careers. He also spearheaded the campaign to endow the Honorable Donetta Ambrose Scholarship (see article on p. 12).

Master of Ceremonies Jon Perry, Patti Dodge, Dean Gormley and Director of Law Alumni Relations Jeanine DeBor.

Travis Williams

Chief Justice Saylor accepts the Professionalism and Public Service award.

THE DUQUESNE LAWYER

Vince Quatrini, L’74, with sons Adam, L’14, and Michael, L’07.

Reunion class of 2005.

Members of the class of 2011 enjoy a champagne toast for having the most DLAA members this year. A contribution to the Law Alumni Endowed Scholarship will be made in their honor.

Brennan Hart passes the gavel to Jessica Jurasko.

Gino Peluso, L’80, snaps a photo of special guest Bill Hillgrove with Garry Nelson, L’82, and Judge Jeffrey Manning, L’72.

Reunion class of 1975.

SUMMER 2015

C L A S S AC TIO NS

1972

Hon. Jeffrey A. Manning received the Golden Crowbar Award by the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges for his role in implementing case-management initiatives.

Hutton ’76

Conti ’78

1973

Ken Davie was named to the Board of Governors of the Greater Newark YMCA. Thomas Grace has become a founding partner of Grace & Kennedy P.C.

1974 Nolan ’80

Gallagher ’82

Fidei ’81

Casey ’83

Allegheny County Bar Association’s 50-year Practitioner Awards Giles J. Gaca, L’63 Robert S. Garrett, L’64 George H. Hoffman, L’63 Ronald P. Koerner, L’64 Arthur M. Lebovitz, L’62 Harry J. Mahr, Jr., L’64 Thomas P. Ravis, L’67 Ralph E. Shuster, L’63 Harry J. Zimmer, L’64 Joseph M. Zoffer, L’63

1970

Hon. Dan R. Pellegrini was awarded the James S. Bowman Award by the Pennsylvania Bar Association Administrative Law Section. This award honors a lawyer who is making a significant impact on the practice of administrative law and who is demonstrating leadership in mentoring administrative law practitioners.

1971

William C. Costopoulos is a recipient of The Legal Intelligencer’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

THE DUQUESNE LAWYER

David S. Pollock is the recipient of the Years of Service Award presented by the Washington County Bar Association, which recognizes individuals who have committed 40 or more years of service to the legal profession. He is also a 2015 recipient of the Pittsburgh Business Times Diamond Award for exceptional leadership.

1975

Ann L. Begler has been certified as a Coach through the International Coaching Federation.

1976

Jerry Hutton was named partner at Edgar Snyder & Associates.

1977

Donald J. Guter has signed a new five-year contract to remain president and dean of South Texas School of Law. Phoebe Haddon was honored as one of the “25 Most Influential People in Legal Education” by The National Jurist.

1978

John C. Conti has become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

1979

Paul R. Yagelski, co-chair of Rothman Gordon’s oil and gas practice, has been appointed to the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Shale Energy Law Committee.

1980

James P. Hollihan has been made partner for the new Pittsburgh office of Blank Rome LLP.

Hon. Timothy K. Lewis, of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, was selected as one of 2015’s Diverse Attorneys of the Year by The Legal Intelligencer. Ken Nolan was named partner at Edgar Snyder & Associates.

1981

Patricia Dodge was named a Pittsburgh Business Times 2015 BusinessWomen First award winner. She was also a recipient of The Legal Intelligencer’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Richard Fidei is a shareholder and key member of Greenberg Traurig’s insurance regulatory & transactions practice group.

1982

Kathleen A. Gallagher, member at Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott LLC, was appointed to the Government Outreach Committee of the World Meeting of Families.

1983

Lawrence J. Casey joined the Boston law firm of Davis, Malm & D’Agostine, PC as a shareholder in business law, employment and litigation. Andrea Geraghty has been appointed to the Government Review Commission by Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. Thomas Giotto was recognized by the Pennsylvania Diversity Council with its 2014 Leadership Excellence in Law award. Daniel C. Lawson was appointed Legislative Consultant for the American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI). Suzanne Belot Norton has been selected as one of 2014’s “Who’s Who in Area Law” by the Toledo Business Journal, which honors the top 100 attorneys in Northwestern Ohio. Paul R. Rennie has joined Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote PC’s creditors’ rights and bankruptcy practice group as of counsel.

1984

1995

1985

1996

The Hon. John T. McVay Jr. married Janine Palmer on June 14, 2014 in Palm Beach. June Swanson was named the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Real Property Section executive council chair.

Cynthia E. Kernick was named a 2014 “Influential Woman in IP Law” by Law360.

1986

Mark Giallonardo has joined Cherry Bekaert’s south Florida Coral Gables office as a Tax Principal.

1988

Mary-Jo Rebelo has been elected as a member of Houston Harbaugh’s 2015 Executive Committee.

1989

Eric C. Springer was named co-managing shareholder and director of Sherrard, German & Kelly, P.C.

1991

Gene L. Jazwinski has been named chair of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote’s real estate practice group, comprised of its oil, gas and mineral title service group, real estate transactional practice, and real estate litigation practice. Jean Manifesto was named an attorney at Sykes Elder Law LLC.

1992

Raymond C. Vogliano, chair of Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC’s tax and estates & trusts group, has been elected a Fellow of the prestigious American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).

1993

William F. Caye II has opened the newly formed Law Office of William F. Caye II.

1994

John M. Hartzell, Jr. has been elected as a member of Houston Harbaugh’s 2015 Executive Committee and Treasurer. Jason Lichtenstein has been elected to membership in the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County.

Rosalie J. Bell has been appointed vice president and general counsel of Pittsburgh Corning Corporation. Anthony A. Ditka has been elected to Dinsmore & Shohl’s Board of Directors. Nicola Henry-Taylor was chosen by the Women’s Bar Association of Western Pennsylvania as the recipient of the 2015 Susan B. Anthony Award. David L. Spurgeon was appointed to Governor Tom Wolf’s transition team to evaluate the state Department of Corrections.

McVay ’84

1997

Krista Kochosky is head of the litigation practice group at the Lynch Law Group, LLC. Regis Stafford is director of E-discovery at bit-x-bit, LLC.

Vogliano ’92

Bell ’95

1998

Elliot C. Howsie, Allegheny County Public Defender, was selected as one of 2015’s Diverse Attorneys of the Year by The Legal Intelligencer. Lisa P. Means joined Clark Hill PLC as a Senior Attorney.

Madelyn Reilly, L’85, has been named vice president for legal affairs and general counsel at Duquesne University effective July 1. Reilly, who currently serves as associate general counsel and executive director of compliance, will succeed Linda Drago, who is retiring June 30. “Madelyn has proven herself to be a thorough, innovative and gifted attorney. She works cooperatively with others across campus. The results have been new and improved policies on multiple complex issues,” said Duquesne University President Dr. Charles J. Dougherty. “She is also deeply committed to Duquesne’s Catholic, Spiritan mission. We are fortunate indeed to have her to turn to in this time of transition in the legal affairs office.” Reilly was named director of risk management at the University in January 2009 and was appointed associate general counsel in October of that year. During her tenure, Reilly has provided counsel in various aspects of legal affairs, including contracts, litigation, regulatory compliance, protection of minors, emergency planning, and policy development and implementation. Look for a full article on Reilly’s appointment in the fall/winter 2015 issue.

SUMMER 2015

C L A S S AC TIO NS

1999

2004

2000

2005

Angela A. Cronk has been promoted to member in the Philadelphia office of Burns White LLC.

Cronk ’99

Korinski ’00

Brad R. Korinski joined Lieber Hammer Huber & Bennington, P.C. as a litigation attorney.

2001

Vugrinovich ’01

Tague ’04

Malloy ’02

Zaremski-Young ’05

Nicole E. Bazzy, co-chair of the estate planning and administration group at Burns White LLC, has been promoted to member in the Pittsburgh office. Frank Kosir was named to the board of directors of the Allegheny County Bar Association Real Property Section as assistant secretary and was elected vice chairman of the Peters Township Planning Commission. Richard S. Sigurdson has been promoted to member in the Pittsburgh office of Burns White LLC. Danielle M. Vugrinovich was named shareholder at Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin.

2002 Schonbeck ’06

Bauccio ’07

Antonio A. Comas has been promoted to member in the Pittsburgh office of Burns White LLC. Lauren N. Diulus is an associate at the Pittsburgh office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Meghan Jones-Rolla has been promoted to senior vice president, assistant general counsel at ServiceLink. James S. Malloy was named a partner in the Pittsburgh law firm of Dingess, Foster, Luciana, Davidson & Chleboski LLP. Mary McGinley, co-chair of Attorneys Against Hunger, has been recognized as a 2014-2015 Jefferson Award Winner in recognition of her unwavering commitment to the fight against hunger.

2003

Christopher A. Cafardi is the managing member of the newly formed law firm Cafardi Ferguson Wyrich Weis & Stanger. Edwin W. Russell joined Feldstein Grinberg Lang & McKee as an associate.

THE DUQUESNE LAWYER

Kimberly S. Tague was promoted to director at Strassburger, McKenna, Gutnick & Gefsky.

Steve Antonelli has been promoted to shareholder at Babst Calland. Andrew J. Fuga has been promoted to member in the Philadelphia office of Burns White LLC. Christine Zaremski-Young was named partner at Edgar Snyder & Associates.

2006

Jill Lipman Beck was awarded the 2014 Presidential Merit Award and the Outstanding Public Service Award by the Allegheny County Bar Foundation. Antonino Legeza is now In-House Counsel at Shaft Drillers International LLC. Lisa M. Schonbeck has been elected as a partner of Leech Tishman. Brianna Vanata was sworn in as first assistant district attorney for Greene County.

2007

Salvatore Bauccio was elected as a member of McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC in Harrisburg. Mark Dausch has been promoted to shareholder at Babst Calland. Katherine E. Koop was promoted to shareholder at Tucker Arensberg PC. Dylan C. Lewis became a partner at Bowles Rice, LLP. Jean Mosites has been promoted to shareholder at Babst Calland. George Philippopoulos has been promoted to vice president and senior manager, Strategic Initiatives, Regulatory Compliance, at HSBC Bank in New York. Michael Waltman joined the Pittsburgh office of Meyer Darragh. Kimberly W. Young has been promoted to member in the Pittsburgh office of Burns White LLC.

2008

Katrina L. Brantley joined ServiceLink as Corporate Counsel. Kathleen M. Charlton and her husband, Joseph Charlton, welcomed Cash Joseph Charlton on Nov. 21, 2014. Britt A. Freund became a partner at Bowles Rice, LLP. Kathryn L. Harrison has been selected as a semifinalist for the Rising Star Award by the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC). Anthony Marmo, a state deputy attorney general, was honored by the Pittsburgh City Council for his work with the Attorney General’s Western Region Child Predator Section. Council declared Oct. 21, 2014 “Anthony Marmo Day.” Michael Metcalfe has joined the litigation and taxation practice groups of Leech Tishman. Michael J. Moyer was elected as Secretary of the Probate and Tax Section of the Montgomery County Bar Association. Brian Santo is a compliance manager and contracts specialist for the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Samuel Yamron is an attorney with The Ronald Law Group.

2010

Patrick Auth joined Babst Calland as an associate of the title services and energy and natural resources groups. Matthew G. Brouse, co-chair of the energy group at Burns White LLC, has been promoted to member in the Pittsburgh office.

Metcalfe ’08

Williams ’09

Grant ’10

Flickinger ’11

Jazmine D. Grant joined Sherrard, German & Kelly, P.C. as an associate. Anthony Judice joined Gordon & Rees LLP as an associate. Malgorzata M. Kosturek joined Hard Rock International as Director of Business Affairs-Hotels. Robert J. Mancuso II married Melissa Morrongiello on Aug. 2, 2014, in Newport Coast, Calif. Michaelene Weimer has joined Westinghouse as Counsel, Legal Risk & Commercial Affairs.

2011

Abigail Boylan joined Brown Wynn McGarry Nimeroff LLC as a commercial litigation associate. Jonathon Flickinger is now working at Swanson Industries in Morgantown, W.Va., as a Human Resources Business Partner.

2009

Jennifer A. Galloway is a founding partner of Kearney Galloway LLC in York, Pa. Daniel T. Hunter was named an associate in the Buffalo office of Goldberg Segalla. Christopher S. Lockman was recognized at the Maine Supreme Judicial Court Katahdin Counsel Recognition event for completing 50 or more hours of pro bono service in the previous year. Warner Macklin was appointed to Governor Tom Wolf’s transition team as a member of the Banking and Securities Review Committee. Joseph R. Williams became a partner in the law firm of Pollock Begg Komar Glasser & Vertz LLC.

Lt. Adrienne M. Baldoni (formerly Sadosky), L’09, a military lawyer with the U.S. Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps, was chosen as one of the Navy’s first Victim Legal Counsel (VLC) in San Diego to lead its new Victim Legal Counsel Program. Baldoni provides legal services to eligible victims of sexual assault, including assistance and advocacy in the investigative and military justice processes. She started her career as a Navy criminal defense and legal assistance attorney in Norfolk, Va., defending sexual assault clients. She went on to be a deputy command judge advocate on the USS Nimitz (CVN 68), homeported in Bremerton, Wash., and completed an eight-month deployment at sea. In February 2014, Baldoni was personally selected by the Judge Advocate General of the Navy to serve as a VLC. “Being a VLC is a duty unlike any other in the military. You don’t represent the government, you don’t represent the accused, you represent the victim, and in an adversarial system like the criminal justice process, you bring a whole new perspective to the prosecution of criminal sex offenses,” she said.

SUMMER 2015

CL A S S ACTIO NS

2012

Peter J. Biscontini joined the Wilkes-Barre, Pa. office of Thomas, Thomas & Hafer, LLP.

Fitzhugh Porter ’11

Sedlock ’11

Biscontini ’12

Friedrich ’13

Shuber ’13

James ’14

Clarissa Chenoweth joined Delaware law firm Smith Katzenstein & Jenkins LLP as an associate. Christine S. Cornell is an associate at Gordon & Rees, LLP. Samantha D. Farrell joined Robb Leonard Mulvihill LLP as an associate whose practice will include complex insurance coverage, extra contractual litigation, commercial litigation and general civil litigation. Jeff Fromknecht became a board member of the City of Boynton Beach Recreation & Parks Department. Shawn A. Martin is an assistant director with the Career Center at Emory University specializing in Pre-Health. Lauren Oelrich is an associate at Gordon & Rees, LLP. Zachary Strohm joined McNelly & Goldstein, LLC as an associate attorney. Kartik Subramany joined Chaffin Luhana’s Pittsburgh office as an associate.

2013 Joshua R. Lamm is an associate with the Pittsburgh office of Bennett, Bricklin & Saltzburg LLC. Casey P. Mullen joined Burns White as an associate of the litigation group. Amanda L. Fitzhugh Porter joined Leech Tishman as an associate in the energy practice group. Ashley Resko joined Rex Energy Corporation as Manager/Land Title. Bridget Sedlock was named an associate in the oil and gas practice at Tucker Arensburg PC. Alyson Wyman is an associate at Pickett & Oliverio, LLP.

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Jeffrey M. Friedrich is a member of the corporate, real estate and financial services groups at Sherrard, German & Kelly, P.C. Chad Greenwald is an associate at Ruschell & Associates, LLC. Jay Hagerman has been appointed to the Government Review Commission by Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. Laureen McCloskey has joined Grudowski Law Associates, P.C. Alicia Nealon has been promoted to director of regulatory affairs by the National Association of Federal Credit Unions. Michael O’Leary joined Archinaco Bracken LLC as an associate.

Genevieve Pecharka accepted an associate attorney position at Dickie, McCamey, & Chilcote, P.C. Timothy Quinn is an associate of Meyer, Unkovic & Scott. Matthew V. Rudzki was a recipient of the Duquesne University 2014 Mind, Heart and Spirit Award. Bridget Sasson joined Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote P.C. as an associate. Jordan P. Shuber joined Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky as an associate.

2014

Sara Aull joined the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as general counsel. Andrea M. Bova joined PNC Financial Services Group. Amy Coleman accepted a position as an associate in legal services with Bowles Rice, LLP. Amie Courtney is an attorney at Solvaire Technologies. Erin M. Curran joined Domenick Legal Group as an associate. Robert N. Dare joined Pilchak & Cohen, P.C. in Auburn Hills, Mich. Richard DeBlasio is an associate at Burns White, LLC. Lauren Gailey accepted a position as an associate in the new lawyer group of Jones Day in the Pittsburgh office. Andrew P. Griffin joined Pollock Begg Komar Glasser & Vertz LLC as an associate. Peter J. Horne joined Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott LLC as an associate in the litigation division. R. Steven James joined Tucker Arensberg, P.C. as an associate specializing in corporate and business work. Katherine Janocsko is an associate attorney at Goehring, Rutter, & Boehm.

Sarah A. Kleinman joined Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin, P.C. in Philadelphia as an associate in the professional liability department. Francesca M. Kosec joined Leech Tishman as an associate in the corporate and real estate practice groups. Lindsay Kreppel was hired as an associate in the litigation and investment management practice groups of the firm Tucker Arensberg, P.C. Sarah Krolikowski is an assistant district attorney in the Allegheny County’s District Attorney’s Office. Anya Lernatovych is an associate at the Pittsburgh office of Reed Smith. Ashley J. Locker joined Hardin Thompson P.C. as an associate. Trisha Rae Longenette accepted a position as an associate at Jackson Kelly PLLC in the land and natural resource development and the labor and employment practice groups in the firm’s Wheeling, W.Va., office. Lori Love is an attorney at PC Law Associates. Sarah Molinero joined Babst Calland as an associate of the business services group. Elena C. Nola joined Leech Tishman as an associate in the litigation and intellectual property practice groups.

In Memoriam It is with deep sadness that we list the following School of Law alumni who passed away:

J. Ramy Nubani was named an attorney at Clark Hill PLC in its corporate practice group. Ali J. Parker is an associate at K&L Gates. Gabriel A. Perlow joined McKnight Realty Partners as an associate general counsel. Shayna Petrella has joined Swartz Campbell LLC as an associate. Autumn L. Pividori joined Burns White as an associate of the Medicare Compliance Group. Judy Hale Reed joined Gusty A.E. Sunseri & Associates as an associate. Andrew Rothey has joined Rosen Louik & Perry as an associate.

Kosec ’14

Kreppel ’14

Longenette ’14

Molinero ’14

Nola ’14

Pividori ’14

William P. Spero accepted a position with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Abagale E. Steidl joined Steidl & Steinberg. Jeffrey L. Thomas joined Greene County Court of Common Pleas as a law clerk. Bethany Williard is a law clerk for the Hon. Linda Rovder Fleming of the Court of Common Pleas of Cambria County. Joseph D. Ziegler is a senior associate attorney at Sommer Law Group P.C.

John J. Bartos, L’74

Platon Nick Mandros, L’63

Anthony C. Sartori, L’76

George C. Diamantopulos, L’61

Joseph F. McCarthy, III, L’97

Stephanie G. Spaulding, L’81

Alvin E. Dillman, Jr., L’63

John P. Pizzi, L’77

Eugene H. Stewart, L’76

Joseph E. Ferens, L’73

Leo R. Rafferty, L’64

Starla J. Williams, L’90

This list is provided through Duquesne University’s Advancement Records Office and may not be complete. If you have information about an alumnus who passed away this past year and is not listed, please contact the Law Alumni Office at 412.396.5215 so we may update our records.

SUMMER 2015

A LU M N I

Highlights from Law Alumni Events

The 1911 Society welcomed its newest members in December: Ken and Laura Gormley, Louis Vitti, L’68, Joseph Sabino Mistick, L’79, and Bonnie Kift, L’82. The 1911 Society recognizes cumulative giving to the School of Law in the amount of $10,000 or more.

Jose Carvallo, L’11, and Liu Duan Francis, L’10, at the DLAA Young Alumni Event in March.

Our alumni in counties North of the Allegheny joined Dean Gormley and members of the DLAA Board at a reception in November.

SAVE THESE DATES: September 24, 2015 Pittsburgh Fall Reception, Doubletree Downtown March 7, 2016 SCOTUS Admission Ceremony (Limited to 50 Alumni—details to come) DLAA Board members participated in the Day in the Life of a Practitioner panel with students in October. From left: Hon. Brandon Neuman, L’09, Hon. Gary Caruso, L’73, Dodi Walker Gross, L’82, Rebecca Gruen, L’92, Katie Charlton, L’08, and Garry Nelson, L’82.

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April 15, 2016 64th Annual Reunion Dinner, Power Center

ST U D E NT B RIEFS

Appellate Moot Court Board Garners Impressive Finishes in Several Competitions

Weiss and Rinaldi

Bittle, Anderson and Montgomery

Emilia Rinaldi, 3L, and Aaron Weiss, 3L, along with student coach Tom Pié, 2L, placed second in the country in the prestigious 30th Annual Dean Jerome Prince Memorial Evidence Competition at Brooklyn Law School in Brooklyn, N.Y. During the final round, the team argued before Judge Richard Clifton of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Judge Edward Korman of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York and Judge Margo Brodie of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.    The team of Emily Bittle, 3L, and Katelin Montgomery, 3E, competed in the prestigious Thurgood A. Marshall Federal Bar Moot Court Competition in Washington, D.C. Out of the 38 teams from law schools across the country, Bittle and Montgomery earned an award for the Best Brief. In addition, of the 76 individual advocates who competed, Montgomery was recognized as the Best Oralist at the competition. Coached by Matthew Andersen, 3L, Bittle and Montgomery advanced to the quarterfinal round, finishing as one of the top eight teams.    Two teams also placed high among competitors at the National Moot Court Competition in Law and Religion at Touro Law Center in Central Islip, N.Y. David Frantz, 3L, Jorge Rojas, 2L, and Adam Tragone, 2L, advanced to the semifinal round. Another team, Martin McKown, 3L, and Daniel Sodroski, 3L, advanced to the quarterfinal round. Additionally, the teams won three of the six Best Oralist awards given at the competition.

Rojas earned recognition for being the Best Oralist among more than 40 competitors. Serving as coach for both teams, Adjunct Professor Frank Stoy, L’12, and Brook Dirlam, 2L, helped lead the advocates to success.    The Appellate Advocacy Programs are under the direction of Adjunct Professor Erin Karsman.

Sodroski, Birlam and McKown

SUMMER 2015

ST U D E NT B RIEFS

Trial Competition News   Both Duquesne Law National Trial Competition teams made it to the semifinal round of the regional competition at the prestigious National Trial Competition in Philadelphia Feb. 7-8. One moved to the finals, and a Duquesne Law student was named a Best Advocate. Congratulations to Finalists Nicholas Yovich, Abby Nath and Grant Nagy for their stellar work. The team beat Villanova in the semifinals and faced Temple—the host school and favorite—losing by just a few points. The senior partners at litigation firms, federal prosecutors and chief public defender who served as judges named third-year student Yovich Best Advocate. Congratulations to Asra Hashmi, Vince Cocco and Alex Poorman who finished as semifinalists after narrowly losing to Temple. The high placement of our teams demonstrates Duquesne Law’s excellence in competing in national trial events. Trial Advocacy Program Director Pete Giglione, L’02, served as coach with Adjunct Professor Mike Gianantonio, L’02.

NTC teams

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AAJ team

Congratulations also to 2L students Corey Young, Annemarie Harr, Tallie VanVuren and Noah Walstrom, who finished as semi-finalists in the American Association for Justice (AAJ) regional competition. Giglione and Adjunct Professor Julian Neiser, L’01, coached the team.

Should the Death Penalty Be Executed? On Nov. 20, 2014, Duquesne University School of Law welcomed Professor William Otis of Georgetown Law to discuss the topic of the death penalty. The Federalist Society hosted the event with co-sponsorship from the Criminal Law Society and the American Constitution Society. Otis was joined by Duquesne Law’s Interim Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Law, Bruce Ledewitz. The debate was moderated by Duquesne Law Professor John Rago. Otis is a former federal prosecutor who served as special counsel to President George H.W. Bush. He has appeared in front of both houses of Congress speaking on a variety of criminal law topics, including the death penalty. Ledewitz is the founder of the Allegheny County Death Penalty Project. He is also the co-founder of the Western Pennsylvania Coalition Against the Death Penalty. The event was a debate on the merits of the death penalty and its future as a method of sentencing in Pennsylvania and across the United States.

From left: Angela Reed Strathman, Steven Kruman, Professor William Otis, Zachary Fleming, Brooke Blackman and Kyle Fiesler

“Dine & Dialogue” with Judge Williams As part of its Black History Month activities, the Black Law Students Association hosted its first Dine & Dialogue on Feb. 17, 2015. The event featured Judge Joseph K. Williams III, L’85, Court of Common Pleas, Allegheny County. Judge Williams spoke with Duquesne Law students and members of the Duquesne community about police and community relations in the city of Pittsburgh and in America at large. Discussion centered primarily on Pittsburgh cases such as Jonny Gammage, an unarmed black man who died of suffocation during a police stop in 1995, and Leon Ford, an unarmed black man shot and paralyzed during a police stop in 2012. Judge Williams suggested a deeper understanding between police and the communities that they serve is needed to improve relations.

From left: Madi Bobb, Tracey McCants Lewis, Judge Williams and Tynishia Williams

Sports & Entertainment Law Society Presents Pirates’ GC On April 1, 2015, the Duquesne University Sports & Entertainment Law Society sponsored a lunch and learn with Bryan Stroh, the senior vice president and general counsel for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Stroh is now in his fourth year with the Pirates. As the sole legal representative for the Pirates, Stroh regularly attends to a wide variety of legal matters, including negotiating vendor and customer agreements, protecting the club’s intellectual property, counseling the club on employment and labor issues, and managing all outside litigation. Additionally, he is responsible for representing the Pirates’ interest in the North Shore property development and making sure that PNC Park is outfitted with the best for its fans. Stroh also represents the club in disputes and negotiations with players as well as at salary arbitration hearings.

From left: Colin Drummond, Bryan Stroh and Rebecca Silinski

SUMMER 2015

ST U D E NT B RIEFS

From Pittsburgh to the Pacific: Recent Duquesne Law Grad Interns in Cambodia’s Courts Cassandra Bodkin and Alison Palmeri When Caroline Durbin graduated from Duquesne University School of Law in the spring of 2014, she never expected that in a few short months she would find herself doing yoga with judges in Cambodia. However, that is exactly where she found herself after receiving a voicemail from fellow Duquesne alumna and professor, Barbara Carlin, L’82. Carlin knew of Durbin’s interest in international criminal law, that she had time off before beginning training for Army JAG in June of 2015, and thought she would be a perfect fit for the internship. Durbin interned in the Office of the Co-Investigating Judge in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), located 18 kilometers outside of Phnom Penh. Currently, the ECCC is conducting war crime trials for Khmer Rouge cadres who carried out genocide and crimes against humanity in the 1970s. During her six-month internship, Durbin helped with the fact investigation by reading site identification reports and witness interviews, reading interviews of Khmer Rouge cadres, and conducting additional research. She also prepared memos on American law, as she was one of the only American interns there at the time. Despite keeping busy with work, Durbin enjoyed Cambodia’s tourist-free beaches, traveled to Thailand and Vietnam, and even ran a half marathon at Angkor Wat. From getting dressed up in traditional Cambodian wedding garments to feeding and bathing elephants, she immersed herself in all aspects of the Cambodian culture. As a nod to the Cambodian culture and people, she took Khmer language lessons in order to

From left: Alison Palmeri, Caroline Durbin and Cassandra Bodkin

greet the neighbors and tuk-tuk drivers she would encounter on a daily basis. Durbin is now heading to Georgia to begin her Army JAG training before leaving for Fort Drum in upstate New York. Prior to leaving, she spoke to Duquesne’s International Law Society on March 25. After serving with JAG for 10 years, Durbin would love to go back to Cambodia or anywhere else that would allow her to work on international criminal law matters. She is a great ambassador for Duquesne, strengthening the School of Law’s ties with the international criminal law community abroad.

DIPLA Welcomes Cynthia Kernick On Feb. 19, 2014, the Duquesne Intellectual Property Law Association (DIPLA) invited Cynthia Kernick, L’85, partner at Reed Smith specializing in intellectual property matters, particularly patent litigation, to speak about her experiences of practicing IP law as a woman and also about her pro bono work. Kernick discussed an early case where she stopped the Ku Klux Klan from wrongfully and illegally utilizing the voice of Fred Rogers for racist indoctrination purposes. She also shared the story of her long quest to retrieve a treasure trove of photographs taken by Charles “Teenie” Harris, many of which he’d taken on behalf of the Pittsburgh Courier, one of America’s oldest black newspapers. Not only did she win millions of dollars in damages by crafting her cause of action to get around the long-since-passed statute of limitations, Kernick parlayed this victory into getting the return of all of the photographs—which some authorities consider the most complete photographic

THE DUQUESNE LAWYER

From left: Meghan Collins, Kevin Shaw, Cynthia Kernick, Cara Pinto and Nicholas Jimenez

documentation of a minority community in the country. She also discussed the difficulties women and minorities face in practicing law and how she overcame those obstacles in her rise to partner at one of the world’s largest law firms.

2015 Woman of the Year Angela Reed Strathman The Women’s Law Association hosted the 23rd annual Woman of the Year event on April 8, 2015 at the Common Plea Restaurant. The Woman of the Year event honors two distinguished women, the Woman of the Year and the Recent Graduate of the Year. Professor Tracey McCants Lewis, L’00, was named Woman of the Year and Gabriela Steier, L’12, was named Recent Graduate of the Year. The Woman of the Year award is given to a female alumna who promotes gender equality, gives back to the community, demonstrates professionalism and leadership, raises awareness about issues affecting women, maintains a meaningful connection with female Duquesne Law students, and pioneers a new path for women in the legal profession. The Recent Graduate of the Year is given to an alumna who also exemplifies these characteristics and who has graduated in the last five years. These awards have been given to many distinguished women in the legal field over the last 23 years, including judges, prominent attorneys, professors, deans and authors. Professor Jan Levine introduced Steier and shared Steier’s many achievements as a student and since graduating. Highlighted in these remarks is the fact that while still a student, Steier published four separate law review articles and since graduation has already co-edited a forthcoming textbook on international food law. Steier is currently pursuing a doctorate in comparative law at the University of Cologne in Germany, and focuses her work on food safety, policy, animal welfare and GMO issues domestically and in the European Union. She also co-teaches a law course at Duquesne in food law as an adjunct professor.

From left: Biannely Diaz, Lindsay Nemit, Tracey McCants Lewis, Angela Reed Strathman and Ashley Wilkinson

Leslie Britton Dozier, former classmate and close friend of McCants Lewis, introduced the Woman of the Year. McCants Lewis has received the Outstanding Woman Law Graduate of 2000 award from the National Association of Lawyers, the 2012 NAACP Pittsburgh Homer S. Brown Award for Legal Service and the 2012 Urban League Young Professional of Greater Pittsburgh Decade of Dedication Award. In addition to teaching, she is the assistant director of Clinical Legal Education at Duquesne, a published author, a member of the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board, a recent member of the Allegheny County Government Review Commission, and much more. The Women’s Law Association thanks the co-sponsors who made the evening possible: Duquesne Law Alumni Association; Allegheny County Bar Association, Women in the Law Division; and Women’s Bar Association of Western Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Act Is Here; Now What? Duquesne University School of Law alumnus Steven Auerbach, L’13, spoke to law students on Jan. 8, 2015, on Senate Bill 3, also known as the Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Act. Medical cannabis is a growing topic within several states, including Pennsylvania. Auerbach took time to speak with students about the meaning behind the bill and the possible legal issues that may be encountered along the journey to legalizing medical cannabis. Auerbach is the executive director of the Cannabis Growers Association of Pennsylvania, an advocacy group focusing on lobbying and organizing in favor of a public policy declaration to protect the rights of medical cannabis users. He has extensive knowledge in this field and has dedicated much time and effort into giving advice on the drafting of the bill, which contains the language of “cannabis” as opposed to “marijuana” due to the cultural baggage attached to that word. The act will permit a greater amount of medical research to be conducted as part of the

Steven Auerbach, first row, with students.

legislation. Auerbach explained the protections the Pennsylvania act would afford employers and employees; specifically, employers are not required to allow the employee to use cannabis during working hours, even if it is for medical purposes. The employee, on the other hand, cannot be fired merely for failing a drug test due to the use of medical cannabis. SUMMER 2015

Being a Schweitzer Fellow Margaret (Maggie) McGannon, 2D

The phrase “those who can’t do, teach!” is a common jab at legal academics, but this phrase has encouraged me to share my incomplete but ever-expanding legal knowledge with others. Law students cannot give legal advice and cannot practice without a license. We can, however, begin the practice of law by digesting, repeating and engaging with the law. With the much-appreciated support of the Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellows Program and Duquesne Law network, I teach a weekly class on “legal basics” at the Allegheny County Jail, presenting abbreviated legal classes on a variety of subjects, from contracts and torts to election law, criminal law and the presidential power. My Schweitzer Maggie McGannon Fellows project allows me to facilitate classes, prepare lessons, discuss the law and work with individuals who are most personally affected by the criminal justice system. During my first year as a law student, I felt a conceptual divide growing between my peers and myself. The law and theories I was incorporating into my life and my thinking as a 1L may forever remain a mystery to others: individuals who did not go to law school, those without access to an attorney and people who have the good fortune of avoiding legal confrontations. The tension I felt as a 1L, between my newfound knowledge of the law and the realization that most people will never even know legal basics (let alone legal complexities), was most acute when thinking about incarcerated individuals.

Ever since I took an Inside-Out course as an undergraduate, where half of the students were from St. Joseph’s University and the other students were incarcerated at the work-release facility where our class was held, I have cared deeply about families and individuals touched by the criminal justice system. Anyone with a loved one who has been touched by the criminal justice system understands the complexities and frustration of that system; they also understand the system lacks compassion and concern for the individual. Similarly, criminal attorneys see the underbelly of systematic indifference: when reading a laundry list of charges, during jailhouse visits and in the faces of lifetime clients stuck in a cycle of recidivism. Without a doubt, my formal legal education will be invaluable to my life as a citizen, as a practicing attorney and as a counselor in my community; but I am learning, through my teaching in the jail, to be a more engaged citizen and share my knowledge and skills. Albert Schweitzer explained, “Reverence for Life ... does not allow the scholar to live for his science alone, even if he is very useful to the community in so doing.” The conversations I have in the jail and the people I have met during my Schweitzer Fellowship experience motivate my continued work in the field of criminal justice reform. But more importantly, my project creates a space to engage with and become “engrossed in the philosophical problem of the relation between emotion and reason” and examine, as Dr. Schweitzer did, the way compassion, forgiveness and kindness relate to reason.

Without a doubt, my formal legal education will be invaluable to my life as a citizen, as a practicing attorney and as a counselor in my community.

THE DUQUESNE LAWYER

CAR E E R S E RV ICES

Career Services on the Move Maria D. Comas, L’00, Director, Career Services

The Career Services Office (CSO) was pleased to offer a variety of programs and events this year. We are very grateful to the numerous Duquesne Law alumni, other attorneys and recruiting professionals who worked with us and allowed us to offer important skills and informational programming for our students. Our thanks also extends to all of our alumni who contacted the CSO about employment positions for our students

Practice Area and Concentrations Fair: Julian E. Neiser, L’01, left, and Edward F. Hirshberg, L’12, talk with students interested in civil litigation Feb. 24.

Speed Networking with the Duquesne Law Alumni Association Board of Governors: Rebecca Gruen, L’92, right, speaks with first year students March 18.

and alumni, participated in Spring On-Campus Recruitment, or met with students and recent graduates for informational interviews. If you have occasion to hire a law clerk or associate attorney, please consider Duquesne Law students and alumni. The continued guidance and support of our alumni is sincerely appreciated.

Lawyers on Location: James Kaczorowski, L’12, and Derek Jones, L’11, with students at KPMG March 27.

Tips for a Successful Job Search in Washington, D.C.: Christy M. Gamble, L’13, third from right, and CSO Director Maria Comas, second from right, with students April 10.

Growing Judges Program: Sixteen Court of Common Pleas judges from throughout Pennsylvania, including the Hon. Ida Chen, right, here with colleagues and students Feb. 27.

SUMMER 2015

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 390 Pittsburgh, PA

School of Law 600 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15282

The Call to Excellence “Receiving the Duquesne Law Alumni Association Scholarship has been an honor and a blessing to me. I am honored that such a prestigious group would choose me as a recipient of their scholarship. This scholarship has not only given me financial assistance, but also the opportunity to meet members of the Law Alumni Association. This opportunity alone is priceless as it has opened doors for me to make lifelong connections with members of the DLAA and the legal community.” — Kristine Kowal, 2L

Donating to the Call to Excellence fund helps outstanding students like Kristine obtain the financial assistance they need to attend Duquesne Law during difficult economic times.

Won’t you answer the call today?

Please send donations to the Call to Excellence Fund to: Duquesne University School of Law c/o Jeanine DeBor, Director of Law Alumni Relations 600 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15282 Donations in memory of Dr. John E. Murray, Jr. may be made to The Call to Excellence Fund.